The Sullivan Institute for Healthcare Innovation, in collaboration with the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), announced the release of its Virtual Clipboard Initiative pilot solution definition and design document. This document outlines the specifications for the Virtual Clipboard Initiative pilot program, including defined user functionality, pilot scope and functionality, as well as documenting future strategic design considerations.
“We expect the Virtual Clipboard Initiative to significantly improve the burdensome patient intake process – a critical and overlooked component of the healthcare delivery system,” said Devin Jopp, Ed.D, President and CEO of WEDI. “In an unprecedented collaborative effort, key stakeholders from across the healthcare continuum have come together to define initial standards for mobile healthcare applications. Leveraging the technology that many patients already use, the pilot seeks to demonstrate dramatic improvements to the healthcare registration process.”
The initial phase of the Virtual Clipboard Initiative pilot will be to facilitate the automated collection of critical patient health insurance and demographic information. Ultimately, the goal of the Virtual Clipboard Initiative is to create consistent standards, integration points and security that will add value to the entire healthcare delivery system by increasing the quality of care, improving patient safety and reducing administrative costs.
“We are very excited to see the Virtual Clipboard project move into the pilot phase,” stated Robert Tennant, director of health information technology policy for the Medical Group Management Association. “Once implemented, this automated approach to patient intake and data transmission will significantly improve administrative efficiency – while at same time increasing patient satisfaction. By bringing together a powerful alliance of patient advocates, providers, health plans and vendors, the Sullivan Institute, along with WEDI, are forging a clear pathway forward to better patient care.”
“The Virtual Clipboard Initiative pilot is an important step forward as we progress in the multi-phased approach of re-engineering the flow of healthcare information between health plans, patients and providers,” said Lisa Gallagher, BSEE, CISM, CPHIMS, FHIMSS, vice president of technology solutions for HIMSS. “HIMSS is eager to bring the work we’ve undertaken with the other aligned organizations to fruition in this pilot phase of the Virtual Clipboard Initiative.”
