A central part of the Network’s health improvement project involves the application of proven health information technology. The Network has adapted a version of the clinical information system used by Indian Health Service for use by Network members. The RPMS system of IHS has been used to dramatically improve health outcomes for tribal populations and the Network Clinical Committee has incorporated many of disease management tools and measures into this integrated health information system. The system is integrated with the Network’s centralized practice management system and common reference laboratory. It will also be integrated with TeleLynks, a telehealth system implemented by the Network and its participating members to link to specialty care and for sharing of disease management services such as nutrition and exercise counseling.
Using RPMS for Community Health, participating health centers can create a continuity of care record for high risk patients that can be shared with local hospitals. TeleLynks can be used to coordinate consultations for high risk patients. The continuity of care record available through RPMS for Community Health will give other health care providers much needed information about a participating member’s medications, allergies, problem-list, recent treatments and lab tests. TeleLynks will utilize existing frame relay connectivity between the Network’s central data center and each participating member site. The Network will serve as the linkage point for connectivity to other participants such as the Division of Primary Care, who will coordinate further linkage through state participants such as the Office of Health Promotions and academic health centers such as the MDTV program of West Virginia University. Participating health centers will also be able to share clinical resources such as diabetic educators, dietitians and exercise physiologists that are not readily available in many rural areas.
A recent study concluded that more than 40% of all patients with diabetes have not had an eye examination within the last 3 years. In West Virginia, transportation and access to qualified eye care professionals is a barrier to diabetic eye examinations. To overcome this barrier as part of the TeleLynks deployment, the Network has arranged for the acquisition of a portable digital camera to be utilized in the TeleLynks system by a qualified optometrist that will perform these screenings in the health centers on a rotating basis. The images will be uploaded into the MedLynks system so progression of diabetic retinopathy can be evaluated over time.