Accenture Federal Services has enlisted teams from Sutter Health and AMITA Health to carry out research on integrating patient-generated health data into clinical workflows, according to a public email message from the ONC.
This move comes as a part of Accenture’s partnership with ONC, announced in February, 2016. The ONC tasked Accenture with spearheading pilot projects that would identify best practices, gaps, and opportunities for integrating patient-generated health data into clinical workflows.
According to a Sutter Health press release, the pilot began in September. The California-based health system targeted its type II diabetes patient population and equipped patients with the Mpower app.
the app connects devices that measure blood glucose, blood pressure, level of activity, and weight. The app then analyzes the data, displays it in a graphical manner, and produces motivational material to engage and incentivize patients. It also alerts the care team when the patient needs targeted attention.
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The pilot at AMITA Health gathers patient-generated health data across different clinical specialties such as orthopedic surgery, stroke, and behavioral health, says a statement from TapCloud.
The results of these pilots will help inform an ONC white paper and policies regarding integrating patient-generated health data into clinical care.
“We’re excited that Sutter Health is playing a leading role in a project that we expect to have a profound impact in how care teams use patient-generated health data,” said Sutter Health Vice President and Chief of Digital Patient Experience Albert Chan, MD.
“Creating a secure, effective pipeline for this data to the electronic health record establishes a connection between patients and clinicians like never before.”
For AMITA Health, utilizing patient-generated health data is a part of its core mission.
“We are honored to be part of this PGHD initiative,” said AMITA Health’s Reinhold Llerena, MD. “As part of our mission to help patients ‘in sickness and in health,’ it is essential to use leading edge technologies to connect with our patients outside the clinical setting.”
According to Mary Edwards, who leads Accenture’s work on federal civilian healthcare, this project has the potential to enable the seamless use of PGHD, which adds value to patient engagement and care.
“Not only can patient-generated health data offer an opportunity to capture needed information for use during care with potential cost savings and improvements in quality, care coordination, and patient safety but it can provide a more comprehensive picture of ongoing patient health,” Edwards said.
Beyond its patient engagement potential, PGHD holds significant implications for providers. Both Stage 3 Meaningful Use and the recently-published MACRA final rule call for robust patient-generated health data capabilities.
As reporting for these programs nears, healthcare professionals may consider how to seamlessly integrate PGHD into their clinical workflows. Additionally, they may look into how their EHRs and other health technologies accept this data.
Ideally, the information gleaned from the Sutter Health and AMITA Health pilots may also help to inform providers in these endeavors.
Date: October 20, 2016