MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The government’s efforts to define “meaningful use” of IT in healthcare reform bodes well for clinical applications, but what about administrative functions?
A software solution or technology platform that saves lives or improves the delivery of healthcare will almost certainly find the spotlight. Left to the background are the solutions that connect healthcare providers with payers and other parties, ensure the security of sensitive data and make sure the provider’s business office tasks run smoothly.
That’s where VisionShare fits in.
The Minneapolis-based developer of e-health connectivity solutions recently announced plans to expand support for the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) as well as state- and community-based health information exchanges (HIEs). The goal, said Steve Smerz, the company’s vice president of information technology and security officer, is to make sure the payers are represented.
“A lot of times, they don’t talk the same language,” he said. “Providers and patients are part of the clinical side of things, while payers are focused on the administrative side. A lot of them right now are kind of punting when it comes to getting involved (in the healthcare reform debate). They need an intermediary.”
Founded in 2000 with an eye toward security concerns, VisionShare’s Secure Exchange architecture is now reportedly in use in more than half of the nation’s hospitals. The company’s Total OnBoarding solution, meanwhile, features an online self-service enrollment and testing system that enables Medicare contractors and payers to connect with providers and submitters.
Smerz said the debate in Washington over meaningful use standards isn’t paying enough attention to administrative functions, and as a result the payers aren’t getting involved – they’re instead keeping their eye on the discussion over public health options. He said VisionShare is poised to keep the payers in the conversation by highlighting the value of a secure network that includes them.
“When you start bringing the financial together with the clinical, there’s going to be a lot of creativity involved in his the network is set up,” he said. “I’m very optimistic about where VisionShare fits into that equation. To be honest, there aren’t many companies like us out there.”
In announcing VisionShare’s support for the NHIN and regional HIEs in December, company CEO John Feikema stressed that the company’s platform would improve clinical as well as administrative functions.
“Our goal has always been to secure and simplify health information exchange for our customers and others,” he said in a Dec. 7, 2009 press release. “As the Nationwide Health Information Network rolls out, state and federal agencies will establish NHIN end points. Our customers will be able to use their VisionShare connection to securely exchange information across the NHIN with these organizations.”
