Beacon Community
For over 15 years, Indiana has been a leader in health information technology and health information exchange efforts. That leadership was recognized in 2010 through the selection of an Indiana Health Information Exchange-led collaboration by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services as one of 17 national 'Beacon Communities'. This program is part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.
The three year Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program will invest $16 million to support the activities of IHIE, its partners and communities to strengthen Indiana's already robust health IT infrastructure and extend its exchange capabilities. The IHIE collaboration will track outcomes related to quality, affordability and population health.
BACKGROUND:
Indiana has significantly higher rates than the national median for a variety of chronic diseases, which are among the most prevalent and costly health problems in the nation. Nearly 9.6 percent of Indiana residents -455,000 people- have diabetes, more than the national average of 8.2 percent.
Many people in Indiana aren't getting the health screenings they need for certain cancers. Our Beacon Community Program hopes to address both of these issues through better collection and use of data, health systems improvement, and community interventions.
GOALS:
- Increase the proportion of diabetic patients whose blood sugar and cholesterol are under control
- Reduce hospital admissions and emergency room visits for patients with conditions that could have been treated in an outpatient setting
- Increase screening for cancers of the colon and cervix
- Assist Indiana's Regional Extension Centers to support the adoption of electronic health records
These goals will drive improvements for patients and the community by supporting:
- better chronic disease management
- better utilization of healthcare services
- timely preventive care services
- meaningful use of health information technology
- a real-world national health IT model that achieves measurable and sustainable improvements
News and Events from the Central Indiana Beacon Community
August 2012
Central Indiana Beacon Community Fact Sheet
June 2012
Central Indiana Beacon Community recognized at White House Health IT Town Hall
January 2012
Central Indiana Beacon Community Annual Report - 2011
May 2011
Health IT in an Era of Accountable Care: Update from the Beacon Communities
Visit from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services
HHS Secretary Sebelius visits Indiana to launch the Beacon Program.
“When we implemented IHIE's service, we saw a reduction of 90-95% in paper volume for outpatient lab results. This has saved us money, printer expenses and manpower.”
Laboratory Information System Coordinator
Large metro hospital
“(IHIE) provides a safe method of giving the right people the right information in the right place to provide the appropriate level of care, which will have a resounding impact on how care is delivered in the future.”
Charles E. Christian, Chief Information Officer
Good Samaritan Hospital
“The quicker I can get the needed information, the faster my office can make clinical decisions and provide good quality care for our patients.”
Susan Hartman, MD, Director of Quality
St. Francis Medical Group
“IHIE is a collaboration for the common good.”
Vincent C. Caponi, CEO
St. Vincent Health
“IHIE has been a huge relief of getting information to physicians. It has reduced costs and time spent of the telephone with physicians offices.”
Rebecca Foxx, Physician Liaison
St. Vincent Health
“The ability to see hospital results from other networks and providers (in IHIE) ensures good continuity of patient care.”
John Clark, MD, Medical Director
Clarian Health Partners
“Before IHIE, staff time was spent calling around for records that didn't get there in time or sometimes didn't get there at all. The ability to pull reports in a timely manner promotes best care for patients.”
John Clark, MD, Medical Director
Clarian Health Partners
“(IHIE's) Quality Health First Program helps us remember to focus on preventative care needs at the same time we are treating patients for urgent needs.”
Vicki Burk, RN, Clinical Nurse Advocate
St. Francis Family Medicine Residency Program
“We live in a very mobile society. Our patients may have received care in another area of the state or country while traveling. The quality and safety of patient care is enhanced (through IHIE) by having as much information available as possible when care decisions are made.”
Diana Boyer, Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Columbus Regional Hospital
“With IHIE, most results are same day or next day reported, are readily available, easily printed and then routed to the correct patient chart by one clinical staff member daily.”
Susan Hartman, MD, Director of Quality
St. Francis Medical Group
“More and more areas are utilizing (IHIE) which provides more up to date information that can be used in caring for all patients.”
Kimberly Huffer, Lead Transcriptionist
St. Elizabeth Regional Health
“Having a more complete view of a patient's most recent care activities gives our physicians an opportunity to provide an even higher level of informed care.”
Charles E. Christian, Chief Information Officer
Good Samaritan Hospital
“The value (of IHIE) comes from information that is provided through the exchange in a very timely manner. The ability of having relevant information related to a patient's allergies and current medications to prevent errors is very important to all patients in our community.”
Charles E. Christian, Chief Information Officer
Good Samaritan Hospital
“A widely integrated and inclusive population health care data base, like Indiana's health IT network, provides powerful tools for health surveillance and rapid identification of adverse trends.”
Gregory N. Larkin, MD, Indiana State Health Commissioner
Indiana State Health Department
“The benefits of participation in an information exchange are significant for patients, providers and the community health.”
Gregory N. Larkin, Indiana State Health Commissioner
Indiana State Health Department
“The Indiana Health Information Exchange is a very important technological advance in patient care. It provides me with rapid report turn-around, allowing me to keep up and have day-to-day call backs to my patients. This eliminates patient call backs for their test results and eliminates duplicate testing.”
Dr. Daniel Overcash, Physician
St. Vincent Physician Network - Indianapolis Medical Group
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