Vo l u m e x x I X , N o . 1 A p r i l 2 015
Leveraging information technology A look at EHR data By Bob Johnson, MPP, and Karen Soderberg, MS
E
lectronic health record (EHR) systems have become commonplace in Minnesota’s health care system, with most clinics and all hospitals transitioning from paper charts to EHRs. Despite this high adoption rate, providers are struggling to optimize the tools and capabilities to support patient care, and to exchange clinical health information with providers outside of their own health system.
Forging new
alliances
The benefits of medical/dental collaboration By John E. Gulon, DDS
M
y colleagues at Park Dental and I see dozens of patients every day. While our focus is on their mouths, we occasionally encounter other health-related issues that require the attention of a physician. Our dentists and hygienists routinely take each patient’s blood pressure, perform oral cancer screenings, and look for any other symptoms that might be indicative of a larger health issue. If we
encounter any concerning medical issues our dentists instruct their patients to visit their physicians. One of our dentists, Joseph F. Rinaldi III, DDS, recently shared a story with me about just such an occurrence. Dr. Rinaldi was scheduled to remove a patient’s molar. Prior to the surgery, the patient’s blood pressure Forging new alliances to page 16
In 2007, the Minnesota Legislature passed the 2015 Interoperable EHR Mandate, which states that all hospitals and health care providers must use an interoperable electronic health record (EHR) system by Jan. 1, 2015 (Minnesota Statute § 62J.495 Electronic Health Record Technology). An important component of this law is that providers not only adopt the technology, but that they use the tools available in their EHRs and securely exchange relevant health inforLeveraging information technology to page 18