Health Information Technology

Telemedicine is rapidly evolving, and the number of physicians who use it continues to grow.

Whether you use telemedicine every day in your practice or you’re just starting to consider how it might benefit your patients, you probably have plenty of questions and concerns about using it effectively and within compliance.

That’s why the Texas Medical Association formed a task force that will help TMA serve physicians who want to integrate telemedicine into their practice.

When it comes to these analyses, physicians tend to make one of two mistakes, says Shawn Tuma, a Plano lawyer who concentrates on cyber security issues at medical practices. They either ignore it altogether as an unnecessary hassle, or assume that their IT staff has taken care of it. Both approaches can lead to stolen, kidnapped, or corrupted data thanks to threats like phishing and ransomware.

The recently updated TMA EHR Vendor Comparison Tool provides TMA member physicians access to an assessment of EHR products that have a solid Texas market base. It gives physicians a view of company information, product functionality, pricing, and interoperability capabilities when comparing EHR systems.

Many Texas physicians are now unable to write prescriptions for certain pain medications because of ongoing problems when ordering the state’s new prescription forms.

If you are still waiting on forms, check with your electronic health record (EHR) vendor to see if it can set you up to e-prescribe controlled substances, or EPCS.

If you don't have an EHR vendor, search for standalone e-prescribing software, which can assist you with EPCS setup.

Ideally, all members of a health care team –physicians, hospitals, labs – should be able to use HIT and EHRs to share patient information through a secure network, a process called interoperability.

Health Information Exchange (HIE) can be accomplished in different ways, and the needs and requirements vary by practice.

Central Texas Colon and Rectal Surgeons had its electronic health record (EHR) integration with the state’s prescription monitoring program (PMP) in place for fewer than two days before managing partner David Fleeger, MD, saw how it could stop drug diversion and patients on the hunt for medication they don’t need.

Initially, all Texas prescribers had until Sept. 1, 2019 to set up a PMP Aware account. However, thanks to TMA advocacy, lawmakers recently passed a bill that pushed back that deadline to March 1, 2020. House Bill 3284 – by Rep. J.D. Sheffield, DO (R-Gatesville) – was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott on June 14.

With the DocbookMD mobile app, a regional network of physician colleagues is at your fingertips for consultation, referrals, and HIPAA-compliant information exchange - all in the blink of an eye. Download for iPhone, iPad, or Android now.

It probably goes without saying that technology is an integral part of modern health care.

But how can you be sure you’re getting the best deal from your technology vendor?

You can’t be absolutely sure of course, but a few modifications to your vendor contract can help you avoid much of the risk associated with buying technology.

TMA works diligently to give you the tools you need to tackle the challenges of technology. Whether you need help selecting an electronic health record (EHR) or understanding MACRA or the EHR incentive program, TMA has the resources.