GlobalNews - Fall 2007

Allscripts TouchWorks Raising the Bar in Connecticut - A Multispecialty Group's Successful Implementation and Deployment of Allscripts TouchWorks For Paula Palmieri-Grimm, IT Development Manager, a successful EMR implementation can be summed up in three clearly defined steps: 1. Organize and Communicate 2. Do Your Networking Homework 3. Get a Partner from the Beginning About Connecticut Multi-Specialty Group Connecticut Multispecialty Group (CT) is a Hartford, Connecticut-based multispecialty organization with 15 clinics, 79 providers, and 12 specialties including Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. The tagline for the practice is "Leaders in Integrated Medical Care" and through the implementation of the TouchWorks EHR, CMG meets this goal. 1. Organize and Communicate In early Spring, 2005 the CMG Board of Directors along with their Executive Leadership began the assessment process to determine if it was time to bring an Electronic Health Record system to reality for their physicians and the patients they serve in Central Connecticut. After coming to an agreement to move forward with the project, the committee reviewed an array of EHR systems developed by a number of different software vendors. Finally, in December, 2005, the CMG Board of Directors signed a contract to partner with Allscripts for the design, development and delivery of their nationally recognized TouchWorks application. This agreement made CMG the first enterprise in Central Connecticut to commit financial and dedicated employee resources to EHR implementation, bringing state-of-the-art technology to the community. CMG began their EHR project by creating an EHR Executive Committee to provide input and direct the implementation. The committee consisted of representation from the various key components needed to assemble a complete EHR serving the needs of everyone in the organization. The Committee included Executive and Physician leadership, the EHR Project Manager and Lead Trainer, the IT Project Lead, the Billing Director and a Senior Practice Manager. When the decision was made to proceed with Allscripts, the Executive Committee worked together to identify the roles required for the implementation team, establish goals, and planned the interim steps to achieve the goals. Based on the material provided in the Allscripts produced book, The Electronic Physicians, CMG was able to create a solid foundation for their implementation. "Our Global Works relationship was absolutely the extra edge we needed to stay focused, on task, and to be well prepared and trained to assure a successful roll-out of the EHR within our projected time-frame." -- Paula Palmieri-Grimm, IT Development Manager The EHR Project Team was established by the CEO, at the direction of the Board of Directors, with the goal of driving the project. In addition to Project Manager Paula Palmieri-Grimm, the team consists of James Edwards - Lead Trainer, Christine Boucher - Scanning Coordinator, and Mary Kurlick - Integrated Business Lead. The team worked together to implement the EHR and followed the established guidelines. They made sure to meet all defined steps and communicate any delays or alterations to the members of the CMG community. Through their organized, phased approach to implementation and their commitment to communicate internally with CMG�s various departments, the team was able to achieve a successful implementation within 13 months. Deena Marlow, Management Consultant with Global Works Clinical Services Group appreciated Paula�s leadership throughout the project: "Paula is one of the primary reasons that CMG had such a successful implementation. She is thorough, methodical, knows how to work with all the various internal staff, and is just plain smart. She drove this project through the tough times, through the hard decisions, and never let up until the system was built the way it should be." 2. Do Your Networking Homework Every project presents hurdles and Paula and her team were not na�ve in understanding that the implementation of cutting edge technology would offer its set of challenges. However, they were surprised to learn that their network was not robust enough to handle the new EHR they had implemented. There were significant problems in networking communication, including lost note transmissions. After Allscripts, Global Works, and their local IT vendor became involved and were able to review and identify the problems, CMG upgraded their DSL network. This alteration in the project plan occurred after the initial phase of implementation had been completed; requiring that the subsequent phases be halted for approximately four months while the environment was upgraded. When asked about the project now, Paula mentions the importance of locating a local vendor to evaluate networking needs in advance of the initial implementation. Her take-away from the experience is that issues of this nature require third-party analysis and hands-on involvement to address issues specific to an organization�s geographic region. 3. Get a Partner from the Beginning CMG�s implementation plan originally called for rolling out different TouchWorks modules in phases to their specialties and clinics over a 10 month time frame. The organization knew that they wanted to hire application experts to assist them with their implementation. Allscripts recommended working with partner organization Global Works Systems, Inc. CMG brought members of the Global Works Clinical Services Team on board as soon as they signed the contract with Allscripts. Paula and the members of the CMG Executive Committee credit this decision as one of the key success factors for their implementation. Paula speaks of the partnership: "Our Global Works relationship was absolutely the extra edge we needed to stay focused, on task, and to be well prepared and trained to assure a successful roll-out of the EHR within our projected time-frame." Application experts from Global Works were able to sit side-by-side with the CMG project team as they worked with Allscripts on key decisions of the design and build phase. As each decision arose, the Global Works expert was able to offer contextual descriptions of what this decision would mean for the application functionality and for the workflows. As decisions were weighed, the Global Works resources were also able to offer alternative methods and could site specific client examples of where certain functions were used and the results they achieved. This thoughtful, step-by-step consultation enabled the organization to fully comprehend the magnitude of the choices they were making and the downstream effect of their actions. The team felt that this was instrumental to making good decisions throughout the implementation and achieving success. In addition, the side-by-side approach introduced the project team members to all of the intricacies of the application and ultimately provided them with a solid understanding of their TouchWorks modules. "Paula is one of the primary reasons that CMG had such a successful implementation. She is thorough, methodical, knows how to work with all the various internal staff, and is just plain smart. She drove this project through the tough times, through the hard decisions, and never let up until the system was built the way it should be." -- Deena Marlow, Management Consultant CMG also worked with Global Works to develop custom Training Guides and easy-to-reference Quick Guides. These materials assist in CMG�s ongoing training efforts. As time went on and the group continued to roll out their software, they looked to Global Works to provide go-live support through the different phases. Initially Global Works also conducted one-on-one provider training that was identified as a requirement by the committee. During the first two phases of the TouchWorks implementation, Global Works trained end-users while the CMG project team members observed and learned. By the third phase of implementation, Global Works was able to transition the one-on-one training to CMG�s project team members. The partnership approach for CMG empowered the organization with skills that enabled them to confidently move forward and provide their own training to their physicians. Success! Features of TouchWorks that Dramatically Improve Patient Care Allscripts TouchWorks EHR is offered as an array of modules that can be implemented simultaneously or individually as each organization chooses. The modules comprise a complete electronic health record and provide a robust tool for delivering care. CMG chose to implement Allscripts TouchWorks Base, Document, Scan, Rx+, Charge, Order, Results and Note modules. The immediate result of the completed implementation is the move from multiple paper medical records or charts to one electronic health record for each patient. The integration that CMG strives for is now thoroughly supported by this technology, enabling providers to share important patient information in a centralized and secure location. The physicians at CMG are also making use of the ability to quickly and easily fax patient encounter specifcs to outside referral sources from the medical record, requiring zero paperwork on the CMG side and providing their patients with immediate attention on their health concerns. In addition, the providers have used the tasking functionality in the Note module, with internal referrals, to communicate the details of a consult encounter to their CMG colleagues . They are now able to communicate with each other about the patient and keep a record of the communication in the chart, creating a continuum of patient care. "Rx+ with SureScripts is an awesome tool" says Paula Palmieri-Grimm. She sites the automation of the work effort as the key benefit to the organization. CMG no longer needs to produce paper prescriptions or call in prescriptions because the module gives them complete automation from the patient. Rx+ enables providers to enter prescriptions in patient charts and select the option to send the prescriptions to the preferred pharmacy. SureScripts provides secure integration with an enormous number of participating pharmacies. The combined solution offers seamless prescription processing. Another immediate benefit identified by CMG is the integration with the lab system, allowing providers to enter lab results directly into the patient�s electronic health record. Providers can quickly view the patient�s chart and see the results and make clinical decisions based on the quick retrieval of information. What Do the Patients Think? Raising the Bar� The CMG patient community has been along for the whole process. In line with their commitment to clearly communicate with the community, CMG provided pamphlets to patients that described the TouchWorks EHR and the benefits that would be derived once the system was fully implemented. CMG�s Physicians learned to use TouchWorks with patients present, allowing community members to understand the benefits of the EHR. The patient experience has gone from appreciating the quick receipt of information to expecting all healthcare providers to live up to similar standards. CMG has raised the bar for their community regarding the level of care and quality of information available. Furthering adoption of the Electronic Health Record will be fueled in part by the patient expectation of a higher level of care. "We see the initial implementation as our opportunity to really get comfortable with the solution and all that it offers. We are excited to begin planning for the implementation of all of the new functionality in V11." -- Paula Palmieri-Grimm It�s a Journey, Not a Destination The members of the CMG Executive Committee have a level-headed approach to the EHR and what it means to their organization going forward. Their commitment to clinical process improvement through technology is firm and they understand that the implementation is not a one-time purchase or project. The inception of the EMR in healthcare has created an opportunity for continuous growth and improvement. CMG recognizes that their organization will need to stay abreast of the changes in technology and be educated about the options available. TouchWorks V11 was released in summer 2007 and the CMG physicians have already identified several features which will further improve their ability to provide care. Paula Palmieri-Grimm takes a sage approach to the next phase of the EHR process: "We have learned so much over the 14 months of this project and the team members and I understand so much more than we did in the beginning. We are going to systematically go through the entire phased approach and make sure that we have made all of the best decisions regarding the users and the modules in each Division. We see the initial implementation as our opportunity to really get comfortable with the solution and all that it offers. We are excited to begin planning for the implementation of all of the new functionality in V11." Once again, CMG is using organization and planning to make the most of technology in order to achieve clinical success. For more information on Global Works Allscripts Services please click here: Allscripts Services. back to top
Allscripts TouchWorks Global Works Provides Internal TouchWorks V11 Training to Ensure Clinical Consulting Team is Prepared to Assist Clients on the Latest Release
	During the last week in August, the Global Works Clinical Services team gathered to review Allscripts TouchWorks V11 modules. Led by Clinical Consulting Lead, Chad Kerr, the team established the training required by each Global Works consultant to ensure that all are prepared to assist clients with their V11 implementations. With a baseline of training provided by Allscripts earlier in the summer, the team was able to spend the week in the corporate office in Vermont learning more about the changes is in TouchWorks Base, Order/Result, Note and Administration.
Global Works Consultants are excited by the new version and what it offers to the Allscripts and Global Works client base. The team recognizes the complexity offered in the new version and are taking the steps required to fully understand the changes in the versions and the impact of the choices now available to the client. For more information on Global Works V11 services, click here: Allscripts V11 Services page! In addition to internal training programs, Global Works is developing Global Works training documentation including the popular Quick Guides designed for the V11 modules. Currently the Quick Guide for Base is available with Order/Result and Note in development. For information about the training guides, click here: Allscripts Training Services page! back to top
GE Centricity Business and EMR Common Challenges in Optimizing Front-End Work Flows
By Laurene Edge Management Consultant	The Front Office Conundrum Exploring options for optimizing front-end workflows can become a vicious cycle, as every change that is made has an effect on operations downstream. If your front-end staff collects less data it puts more work on the back-end, as accurate billing can�t occur until all the required information is in the system. If front-end staff collects too much data, it may slow patient flow considerably and cause delays for the patient and the physician. The Key: Document the Process The key to a successful optimization is to accurately document current processes step-by-step from the very beginning; from scheduling the patient appointment to when the bill is released to the payer. It�s only then that you can identify inefficiencies and the downstream effects of your current processes.
The information gathered at the front desk has a tremendous impact on what goes out to payers, patients, referring providers, legal case reviewers, government audits, etc. It also affects emergency situations. A recent example of the importance of correct information in the registration database involved an emergency room visit where out of date information created significantly delayed parental notification of a child in need. This was a serious situation and it illustrates the importance of maintaining accurate and up to date information in the registration system. Gathering the Right Data at the Right Time The best time to gather accurate and complete patient data is when the patient is either on the phone or standing in front of a registrar who has been trained in registration functions, including payer rules. If this information isn�t properly gathered here, it will result in a duplicate effort by someone else later on. Downstream staff will be forced to delay releasing the bill or the payer may deny it. Back-office personnel or registration staff will then have to contact the patient to retrieve the missing information, drastically slowing down your A/R days. For example, when several accounts are caught in a specific payer claim edit because of incomplete information it can take time for the back office staff to gather the pertinent information for each of these accounts. The result is that the charges are considered "late charges" by the payer and ultimately get denied. The charges would then be written off, becoming lost revenue. Use the System to Support the Process Many systems have built-in prompts or functionality to help gather the correct data. Some applications have required fields that will not let you proceed until you�ve entered data. Daily reports can also be generated by user, showing that errors were made which require attention. There are also claim edits that hold a bill from going to a payer until the required data is gathered and entered. Some systems have required fields that do not let the user proceed to the next field until an appropriate value is filled in. This obliges the registrar to gather the information because the patient flow stops completely if the required fields are not populated. Other systems take the user through the entire registration process. At the very end, the system lists all of the registration elements that are incomplete and informs the registrar that the patient account would be held and not billed until more comprehensive information is provided. Pre-registration Provides a Win When you collect accurate and pertinent information to begin with, all of the other processes will follow smoothly. However, this doesn�t mean that information needs to be collected when a patient is checking in for their appointment. The best practice is to gather patient information prior to and away from check-in. Implementing a pre-registration process has proven very successful in most cases. Pre-registration Provides a Win It can be conducted from anywhere, eliminating the need to take up valuable space needed for patient care functions. When patients are registered prior to their appointment, check-in is quick and easy, often requiring fewer check-in staff. Physicians and ancillary care services have correct information in the system for determining care needs and referral options at the time the patient is seen. Accurate information goes onto the invoice and payer claim, which eliminates the rework needed to release the bill. Claims are accepted by the payer and paid in a timely manner, translating into a shorter A/R cycle. The result is a win for everyone involved, from beginning to end! For more information on Global Works Project Management services, please click here: Project Management Services. back to top
GE Centricity Business and EMR Increase In The Training Requirements for Healthcare Organizations The year of 2007 has seen an increase in clients upgrading their systems to either Centricity Business (IDX Flowcast) 4.0 or the Web Framework or both. With this increase in new systems implementation and roll outs we have spent a great deal of time working with our clients to train their users. Our Business Services Consultants have a large and varied kit of tools for providing training, some training is focused on the train the trainer approach intended to empower organizations to provide their own ongoing sessions and other training programs have been directed at the end users themselves. We have successfully supported training engagements involving core GE Centricity Business modules and versions, such as Billing and Accounts Receivables, Enterprise-Wide Scheduling, Managed Care, Transaction Editing System, Ambulatory Visit Management and Enterprise Task Manager. We can train in a character-cell environment or with Advanced Web and the Web Framework. If you or your organization are looking for assistance in training your users, Global Works would be glad to provide information on the work we have done with other clients. For more information, please contact Erin Waters: or call 802-846-2550, x515. back to top
GE Centricity Business and EMR Consultant Highlight: Jackie Rogers Global Works GE Centricity EMR Clinical Services
Jackie Rogers Centricity EMR Consultant	Jackie�s career has spanned the healthcare spectrum - from nursing to informatics. She's well-versed in implementing and maintaining applications from a variety of clinical and practice management vendors. Her recent work has focused on the implementation of GE Centricity EMR and GE Centricity Practice for the physician office. Some of Jackie's recent projects include:
Assisting individual physician groups with the transition from paper charts to electronic documentation. Providing understanding of the workflow process including lab results, patient calls and patient flows during the office visit. Supporting go-live as offices were brought live on Centricity EMR. Project Managing a joint GE Centricity EMR and GE Centricity Practice implementation at a small private physicians practice. Provided workflow training and preload training and clinical content development training and assistance. Managing the GE Centricity EMR for several multi-specialty clinics. Coordinated implementations within family medicine and child health clinics including upgrades of various vendor�s application software. Training new EHR users and conducted refreshes as needed. Coordinating quality assurance and improvement related to documentation, coding and outcomes using Centricity�s integrated reporting system and crystal reports. Developing, maintaining and enforcing electronic health record policies and workflows. Monitoring roles-based user privileges. Click here for more information about Global Works Centricity EMR Services or contact Erin Waters at 802-846-2550, x515 or email: . back to top
GE Centricity Business and EMR Scheduling Reports Address Ongoing Issues for Provider Organizations Global Works recently developed new Scheduling reports for GE Centricity Business clients that are designed to address ongoing challenges within provider organizations. Specifically, the reports help administrators manage providers� time and identify opportunities to more efficiently schedule appointments thereby increasing the billing potential for the provider and for the organization. Provider availability, provider capacity and provider utilization reports are now available from Global Works. The reports offer the customers the ability to view the provider�s schedule at the day of week, session, summary slot, and detail appointment level. The reports allow for the analysis of the provider�s availability in the clinic(s) and calculate their overall utilization rate. A popular component of the reports is the 3rd next available appointment: The reports can work with super slots defined for �ANY� appt types using methods that best fit the client�s scheduling methods. Information can be based on simply the 3rd next available appt for the provider, the 3rd next available appt based on appt type category, or the 3rd next available for every appt type defined for the provider. Global Works Data Exchange clients can leverage their Business Intelligence environments and implement the reports using the Data Exchange ETL. For more information on Global Works Technical Services, please click here: Global Works Technical Services or contact Erin Waters at or visit Global Works Technical Services. back to top
Partnership News MPV Clients: Pricing Considerations Now Available for Claim Status Utility and Claim Notes Utility
	Global Works is currently offering a combined solution called the Claims Status Utility and the Claim Notes Utility to all of our clients using MPV's Phynance solution. Clients interested in implementing this solution before 2008 will receive pricing considerations and will immediately benefit from increased system functionality through improved access to information and reduced effort needed to obtain important claims-related data.
To learn more about our solution, please read our promotional information. For more information on MPV and Global Works, visit our Partners web page! back to top

Global Works Software Solution Highlights

Now More Data Available Via the Data Exchange ETL!

	Global Works Data Exchange ETL for GE Centricity Business Clients Expands Data Model to Include Patient Tracker and Payer Contract Module Data. The BAR and SCHED modules from Global Works have been updated with PCM and PT data respectively. The additional Tables can be implemented on a time and materials basis for those who already have the core modules installed.
If you are interested in learning more about how to access Payer Contract Module and Patient Tracker data within your Business Intelligence environment, please contact Erin Waters: . For more information on the Global Works Data Exchange Software for building a better Business Intelligence solution, click here: Global Works Data Exchange.

Global Works One Look Open Will Integrate MS Exchange with MISYS PM Scheduling

Global Works One Look was developed in 2004 to provide MS Exchange integration to users of the GE Centricity Business Scheduling application. Realizing the importance of meeting the needs of our clients, Global Works is expanding the One Look product to serve the Misys community.

One Look Open is in development and will be implemented at the first client site by January 2008.

One Look Open will leverage the technology of the original product including the Interface Framework and the Auto Filer which provide integration using the industry standards HL7 and WebDAV to communicate between MS Exchange and the provider scheduling applications.

Future versions of One Look Open will provide integration between GE Centricity and Lotus Notes and Novel GroupWise � expected to be released in 2008.

If you are interested in learning more about One Look Open, please contact Erin Waters, for more information.

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Global Works Patient Statement System Now Lets Front Office Staff View Statements on the Web!

Patient Statement System offers enhanced customer service features for Business Office staff working in the Centricity Framework. When a patient calls, the account representative can view an exact image of the statement online from his web workplace. Seeing the same statement as the patient makes it easy to provide a quick and accurate answer to the question.

Global Works Patient Statement System (PSS) increases self-pay collections and improves the patient experience through the production of attractive and easy to read statements that clearly indicate patient obligation.

If a patient calls for information, the customer service staff has online access to statement information to provide quick and accurate responses to patient questions and concerns.

The Patient Statement System uses MS Word as the statement design tool, offering you great flexibility in formatting and page layout. Individual statements printed or viewed on the screen by users are formatted exactly as the statement sent to the patient.

PSS facilitates postal savings for high volume production through transmission of an output file to GE Mailing Services. This highly integrated solution includes address correction on all statements and all new address information is entered directly into the Registration database in GE Centricity.

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Global Works Form Letter System for BAR

At the GE Summit in August Global Works reviewed the development status and features of the new BAR module for a client focus group. The attendees validated the design and provided valuable feedback on additional features. Two additional beta clients will begin their implementations during Q1 2008. Development work on the Form Letter System module for Billing and Accounts Receivable is nearing completion.

The goal of this new module is to improve Business Office correspondence workflows including the following:

Requests for registration and insurance billing information.

Follow up on unpaid insurance claims.

Appeal/review requests to insurances.

Collection of self-pay balances.

Global Works' highly successful Form Letter System is in beta with the Billing and Accounts Receivable Module and is due for general release in December 2007.

Correspondence is an important part of the billing and collection process. Business office staff members must send letters and forms to patients, insurers and various other external entities in order to resolve the receivables for medical services rendered by the organization. The addition of the BAR module to FLS will provide the following benefits to the GE BAR site:

Formatting - MS Word formatting to improve look and readability of documents.

Flexibility - Ability to use link and expanding variable functionality to allow flexibility with minimized letter maintenance.

Workflow - Letter filtering based on users rights and activity requested � reduces errors and increases efficiency.

Automation - Standardized automation of letters and forms based on standard activities within the BAR module eliminates manual processes.

To learn more about the Form Letter System and the other modules available, click here: Global Works Form Letter System. To receive direct information about the BAR module, please contact Erin Waters: .
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Editorial Page Security � Singing the Blues or #1 Hit?
	We have all heard and seen the ongoing concern regarding security and HIPAA compliance within the healthcare industry. The launch of CFR 45, Part 164 sent many CIO�s, CEO�s, Business Managers, Clinical Managers, well just about all of us, into a dizzying dance. We were trying to read the rules, comprehend the rules, determine appropriate interpretation of the rules and figure out how to implement the rules. So how are we doing? More importantly, how is YOUR organization doing? Is your organization singing the blues or the sweet song of security success?
Actually, you may be surprised that many organizations are still unsure and feel inadequate in the progress that they have made. A recent web article dated September 12, 2007, by PricewaterhouseCoopers, "Survey: CIO�s Not Happy With Security" on the Health Data Management website stated that 44% of organizations are not fully compliant with HIPAA Security Rules. It also stated based on the survey that 39% of healthcare organizations had experienced a negative information security-related event in the past year. If close to 40% of the organizations have already experienced at least one negative security event in the past year, then statistics tell us that every organization will experience a negative security breach at least once every 30 months. In order to understand HIPAA, we have to understand the four areas of focus: Privacy Rule Protected health information, or "PHI." The deadline for compliance was April 14, 2003 or April 14, 2004 for smaller health plans. Electronic Transactions and Code Sets Rule Deadline for electronic transaction and code sets standard formats compliance was October 16, 2003. National Identifier Requirements for Employers, Providers and Health Plans The National Provider Identifier (NPI) was adopted as the standard unique health identifier for health care providers. The Final Rule was effective May 23, 2005. Providers should have applied for NPI�s on or after that date. The NPI compliance date is May 23, 2007; except for small health plans which were May 23, 2008. The health plan identifier rule is expected in coming years. Security Rule Covered entities were required to be in compliance with the Security Rule no later than April 20, 2005, except small health plans which had to comply by April 20, 2006. The provisions of the Security Rule apply to electronic protected health information (EPHI). We are going to focus on the Security Rule and what that means to you. It is important for everyone to understand the difference between the Privacy Rule and the Security Rule. While the two frequently intertwine and overlap, the distinguishing factor is that the Privacy Rule deals with ALL protected health information. The Security Rule deals with the electronic transmission of protected health information. In order to be in compliance organizations were required to: Assess current security, risks, and gaps. Develop an implementation plan. Read the Security Rule and review all the standards and implementation specifications. Review the addressable implementation specifications. For each addressable implementation specification, your organization must determine if the implementation specification is reasonable and appropriate in its environment. A number of factors must be considered in making the decisions for each addressable implementation specification. Determine security measures. Use of any security measure is allowed to reasonably and appropriately implement the standards and implementation specifications. Implement solutions. Implement security measures and solutions that are reasonable and appropriate for the organization. Document decisions. Document the analysis, decisions and the rationale for the decisions. Reassess periodically. Periodically review and update security measures and documentation in response to environmental and operational changes that affect security of EPHI. Security Standards are divided into three major categories: Administrative safeguards: These are the administrative functions that should be implemented to meet the security standards. These include assignment or delegation of security responsibility to an individual and security training requirements. Physical safeguards: These are the mechanisms required to protect electronic systems, equipment and the data they hold, from threats, environmental hazards and unauthorized intrusion. They include restricting access to EPHI and retaining off site computer backups. Technical safeguards: These are primarily the automated processes used to protect data and control access to data. They include using authentication controls to verify that the person signing onto a computer is authorized to access that EPHI, or encrypting and decrypting data as it is being stored and/or transmitted. Where do you go from here? Now that you have a brief outline of what should have been implemented within your organization, please place a check mark next to each item that you feel confident about within your organization. If you have any boxes that are left unchecked, then you are like most healthcare professionals and you will be continuing to address these issues for the months or years to come. The good news is that there is help out there. Healthcare enterprises and healthcare vendors are actively developing solutions to help with the issues of security and compliance. Security related Best Practice presentations and HIPAA assessment packages are becoming widely available. At Global Works, we have spent time working with our clients to provide HIPAA Gap Analysis reports, to improve system set up to address security concerns, and work with clients to implement new software versions with specific security features enabled. Global Works can also provide tools to help simplify the process of security design and user management. Reports generated from Global Works� Enterprise Security View (ESV) can comprise a part of a client�s security compliance plan, informing the steps of gap analysis, security measure determination and periodic reassessments of those measures. ESV data can also help organizations monitor user activity to proactively monitor user activity to validate the efficacy of security policies and to provide reactive reports that meet the obligations to the patient under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Whether you leverage technology, best practice improvements or system upgrades to achieve system security, we want you to be singing the sweet song of security success! For security related case studies please check out: Global Works at Sutter Case Study and Global Works at Palo Alto Medical Foundation Case Study. For information on Global Works Enterprise Security View, click here: Global Works Enterprise Security View. For consulting services related to applications and security, click here: Global Works Practice Management Application Services. back to top
Editorial Page Implementing a Radiology Information System?
By Nancy Alvarez Business Services Consultant	Managing Radiology Practices is becoming more challenging each day. Financial impact, legal requirements and operational problems all add unique issues that need to be addressed during software selection and implementation. So where should you start? Fact Finding Network with your fellow radiology and imaging system managers, administrators and key personnel. This is one of the most crucial elements in today�s environment. Get insight into how other radiology departments operate to lessen your learning curve. If you�ve got a problem that you can�t work out, networking provides an opportunity to learn what others have done in the same situations.
Analyzing Your Needs Step back and look at how your practice runs today. Do you have remote Radiologist, PACS system, Transcription, Billing? These are just a few examples of the many areas that require documentation. Once this is completed you can address workflows that need improvement and choose an information system that will meet your needs. Users will always prefer the application they�re familiar with to a new one. So in order to effect change, any new technology must give the end user something better: functionality, performance, reliability, efficiency. Software Selection Look for a Radiology information system that will allow full integration with your PACS system. As your practice moves toward a paperless environment, integration becomes your key to success. Hardware Requirements It�s important to analyze your current needs and consider how future growth may impact your infrastructure. Building the proper network environment will be one of the most important aspects of your implementation. Some important questions to consider: How will you handle remote locations? Where will the servers be located or hosted? And most importantly, do you have the IT staff needed? The right IT staff will be critical during your design and decision making process, as well as during the actual implementation. Rolling out new servers, storage and desktop applications will be ongoing tasks. Advances in web technology are helping to facilitate successful enterprise implementations. Your technical IT/PACS administrator should not only be able to understand information system Software/PACS from a technical perspective, but also from a workflow perspective. Comprehending why the system works as it does is as important as understanding how the system works. There is an art to cabling and racking servers. Consider fault tolerance and serviceability in you design to ensure that proper systems management practices have been put in place so that your systems run efficiently Changes are Hard Radiologists as a whole are often early adopters of technology. They are much like the detectives in medicine. It will be beneficial to let the clinical staff know what events will take place well in advance of implementing any new technology. Let those who will be impacted by the change know why the system or process is being implemented and what to anticipate and give them some sense of ownership. back to top
Company News Global Works introduces a new services program: The Global Works Virtual Support Solutions Team The Global Works Virtual Support Solutions Team is designed to address our clients� interest in receiving �on-call� technical and application support for their GE Centricity Business Solutions, GE Centricity EMR, and Allscripts TouchWorks EHR. Several clients have already signed up for the new program which provides: Remote help desk services via a team of experienced analysts Technical, application, training, and workflow expertise at the client�s request A solution for clients seeking interim staffing services during high volume periods or an employee�s leave of absence If you are interested in learning more about this new program, please contact Jeff Hill, Director of Professional Services at . back to top

Company News Global Works Welcomes New Employees Global Works clinical, technical and business services continue to experience strong growth. We've expanded our professional services and client management teams and we're happy to welcome:
	Dale Wright is also a recent addition to Global Works, working on the newly established Dedicated Delivery Team. He has been supporting the Flowcast environment for 9 years now, first at IDX and later at a Physician's Group in Florida. Before that he worked in the front lines of a hospital as a registrar at a hospital in the high desert of California. Originally from Germany, Dale now lives in Florida. He has been making wine for the past few years, following in the family tradition established by his mother. He's a writer as well as an avid reader.
	Laura Vanderburg is a new member of the Global Works Professional Services team. She has worked in healthcare IT for approximately 10 years, with an emphasis on GE Centricity (IDX Flowcast) application modules. She has a degree in Computer Information Systems and began her career in healthcare at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center as a Mumps programmer for IDX BAR, along with many peripheral systems. In the course of her career, she has worked at several GE Centricity client sites supporting (as a programmer, systems analyst and project manager) a wide range of applications, data interfaces and projects. She enjoys singing in the church choir with her two sons, living in Albuquerque, making jewelry and spending time with family and friends.
	Nancy Alvarez joined Global Works Professional Services team and has hit the ground running, assisting clients with their GE Centricity Business Services implementations. She has experience providing wide-ranging expertise in selection, implementation and support of practice-management software for regional and national imaging centers. She has also led implementation teams through planning, integration, migration and deployment phases. She spends her free time on her ranch in Texas with her husband.
Beverly Clemmer joins Global Works Professional Services team as a GE Centricity Business consultant. She has worked with GE/IDX for the last 19 years starting as a front end user, graduating to the IT realm. She has experience working with the following systems and modules: Cache, Visit Management, BAR, TES, PCS, claims, AVM and electronic eligibility. She has also completed certification for Epic in Resolute Professional Billing, Resolute Professional Claims and Resolute Revenue Masters. She spends her free time with her husband and three children in her home in West Virginia.
Global Works is Hiring! Global Works is seeking talented, team-oriented professionals to help our clients achieve their goals. In addition to offering a challenging and satisfying working environment, we provide our employees with a competitive salary and benefits package. We're currently seeking qualified candidates for the following positions: Clinical Services Consultant - Leverage your knowledge of EMR/EHR systems, assuring clients successful implementations and deployments Flowcast Services Consultant - Help our clients maximize their investment in their practice management system Support Programmer - Help fulfill our mission of providing exemplary support to clients of Global Works� industry leading ETL product back to top