Health IT improves diabetic care in HHS study

HHS is touting the power of health IT to improve population health by coordinating care in rural communities for those with chronic diseases, based on the track record of the Columbia Basin Health Association in central Washington state. "Since CBHA's implementation of electronic health records, the community health center has consistently ranked above the 95th percentile nationally in total medical and dental team productivity,"states a report issued by HHS last week.

The Othello, Wash.-based not-for-profit health center saw the percentage of diabetic patients getting foot exams soar from 31 percent to 86 percent in the first half of 2008, thanks to an EHR system that monitored compliance with recommended treatment protocols, according to the HHS case study. The health center also substantially raised its compliance level for diabetic eye exams during the same time period.

"The Columbia Basin Health Association is just one place in America where health information technology and electronic health records have helped ensure patients get better care," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, according to Healthcare IT News. "Health information technology can reduce paperwork, make care more efficient and let doctors spend more time practicing medicine and less time filling out forms."

For more about this report:
- have a look at this Government Health IT piece
- see Healthcare IT News' coverage
- read the HHS case study

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