The Network has focused on projects and activities that promote economies of scale, cost efficiencies and improved operations and better data for our member centers. The Network has established the Community Health Information System ("CHIS") with twelve health centers currently participating in a centralized practice management system using Medical Manager software. The establishment of the CHIS has resulted in standardization of procedures among participants and has saved participants up to 50% of the cost of maintaining separate systems. All insurance plan information, procedure codes and referring physician identifiers is maintained centrally by the Network staff. Patient demographic information is uniformly formatted to facilitate development of a master patient index for disease management tracking and reporting. The Network also provides centralized support for this system, including Internet access and virus protection.
As a result of these standardization measures, participants in the CHIS are able to exchange meaningful comparative information from UDS reports, billing and collection reports and clinical indicators based upon ICD-9 and CPT coding to evaluate improvement opportunities and to determine clinical and operational best practices. This standardized information also facilitates identification of opportunities for integration of functions at the Network level, such as the development of a central business office and certain human resource functions.
The Network has also established a group purchasing plan and has negotiated savings of up to 30% for its members on operating costs through LabCorp and AmeriNet contracts. The Network is also working with its member centers to continue integration of centralized support services such as billing and collections and human resource administration and training.
CHNWV completed its fifth annual practice management seminar in May, 2005 and continues to provide training in important areas such as technology, coding, financial operation, risk management, compliance, OSHA procedures, HIPAA regulations and patient service to member health centers. The Network has also developed model compliance plans for implementation by each member center and provided compliance training and implementation services to more than 150 employees from 22 health centers. Web-based compliance, HIPAA and new employee training programs are being developed and the Network has established an Intranet to provide information to its members. Model HIPAA Privacy and Security programs have also been implemented with member centers and all Privacy Officers and Security Officers have been trained. In its latest training venture, CHNWV has established the Community Health Institute. The Institute will utilize a combination of distance-learning and classroom sessions to train health center leaders on improved leadership skills and change management techniques. The Network has partnered with the West Virginia University College of Business and Executive Education to replicate the successful MBA Essentials program of WVU as a core curriculum for the Institute