Thursday, January 6th, 2011
By Kester Freeman
Former CEO, Palmetto Health
Today there is some exciting news in the world of healthcare IT. A partnership between IBM and the Premier healthcare alliance will change the depth of data that healthcare systems and clinicians have access to, improving the care patients receive. Working together, they will create a unified data model to overcome fragmentation, while supporting accountable care and performance improvements across the healthcare delivery system. This is an industry-first for healthcare!
This change is extremely valuable because those who have access to this database will be able to capture and control data in ways not possible today. This will be a game changer as reform takes hold.
The Premier healthcare alliance, representing nearly 40 percent of all U.S. hospitals, will incorporate outpatient information into their existing database. This change will include diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, and supply and labor costs, among other information. It will offer insight into data from physician practices and other ambulatory settings.
So what does this all mean for the patient? Why does it matter? Well glad you asked. It boils down to being able to know what works best for patients. As Healthcare IT News reported today:
For patients, this means greater certainty they will get the most effective treatment possible. It will also provide better assurance that the care they receive follows best practices from leading hospitals and healthcare experts across the nation. In addition, the model will enable comparative effectiveness by demonstrating how effectively various medical treatments improve health outcomes and conditions.
This change is critical when it comes to being able to improve the way healthcare is delivered in the United States. It will help to bend the healthcare cost curve and ensure patients are getting the quality care they need and deserve.
