Products Promise Productivity Gains in the New Millenium.

Autumn was among the busiest on record in the $1.2 billion healthcare field, with more conferences, symposia, and gatherings than ever luring healthcare providers with the promise of bringing them up-to-date on the latest information system or technology. In fact, there were so many exhibitions

showcasing the inventions and innovations unveiled in 1999 that our editors decided to bring you this "Round II" selection of products and services that grabbed our attention as the millenium wound down. Refer to our November issue for Round I of some of the products and services that are bound to boost productivity in hospitals, physician practice, managed care organizations, and other healthcare settings in the near future.

Handheld Coding at the Point of Care

DynaMedix Corporation has unveiled PocketCode, a portable coding tool for healthcare providers that is designed to eliminate coding errors and reduce the denial rate of claims by ensuring proper coding is captured at the point of the patient encounter. With PocketCode, the caregiver can easily document the diagnosis, select procedures and record notes for each patient on a personal digital assistant (PDA). When the encounter is complete, PocketCode transfers the data to a variety of systems for storage, such as a desktop PC, and allows links into management systems, billing systems or lab information systems. PocketCode software includes ICD9 codes, Procedure Codes, Fee Schedules, CCI data and HCFA's Medical Necessity Guidelines. The system beta tests have been based on use of Casio's Cassiopeia E-100 PDA, but it will operate on any system utilizing Windows CE, including a Windows-based desktop PC. By reducing time for proper coding and submitting proper claims the first time, use of PocketCode can also improve cash flow and revenues for physician practices.

-- DynaMedix Corp., Dallas, TX.

For more information, circle 178

Medical Supplies Online, At Discount

Amid a flurry of new Websites offering online purchasing of medical supplies and equipment, a "veteran" company operating since August 1998 announced its enhanced site. Medicalbuyer.com, founded by radiologist Edward Rollins, M.D., unveiled its new "trading exchange" that offers physicians, hospitals and long-term care facilities more convenient and user-friendly online purchasing. The system allows physicians the convenience of ordering from a selection of about 500,000 items, requiring only an Internet browser, a credit card, and UPS delivery. The system is open to manufacturers, distributors, dealers and end-users and offers discounts of 15 percent to 50 percent. Future services will include an RFQ auction, where buyers select products for open bidding, and a customer-initiated "reverse" auction that will allow selling overstock inventory.

-- Medicalbuyer.com, Johnson City, TN.

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Managed Care Practice Manager

The Advanced Managed Care (AMC) Practice Manager[TM] is a new family of automation tools designed to reduce claims processing costs while maximizing staff productivity by giving the provider the ability to reconcile capitation payments. The user downloads the Explanation of Capitation (EOC) information, and then compares the capitation received from the payor against the expected capitation. Features include membership management, provider contract management, benefit plan definitions, repricing and check disbursement with full Explanation of Benefits (EOBs). The new AMC system includes a referral process manager, a contract terms administrator, decision support functions for analysis and adhoc reports, and a program allowing physicians on-line access to patient eligibility, authorization status and claims status.

-- Medical Manager Health Systems, Mountain View, CA.

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Enabling Physician-Patient Communication

Healinx Corp. is one of the first application service providers (ASPs) to design a Website aimed at permitting efficient online communication between patients and their physician offices, while simultaneously improving physician practice workflow and revenues. The Healinx Website was designed by physicians to provide a messaging system that's more secure than standard email and to facilitate appointment scheduling and medication management. The system automatically routes incoming messages to delegate workload in the physician offices and allows patients to electronically schedule appointments, request referrals or prescriptions, and access their medical profiles. The medical profiles are entered by patients but managed by the physicians. Healinx also provides automated drug interaction warnings and formulary compliance. Physicians, who can utilize the system free of charge, have the option of engaging in on-line structured consultations with their patients and charging nominal fees for the service.

-- Healinx Corp., Alameda, CA.

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Integrated Home Health IS

A new, highly integrated home health information system (HHIS), "inSync," offers full integration with hospital or healthcare information systems, incorporating such functionality as OASIS outcome data collection and approved ORYNX benchmarking. With inSync, care providers in hospitals or home healthcare personnel enter information at one location and it is available to authorized care providers throughout the continuum of care. For instance, inSync allows referral information to flow directly from MEDITECH's healthcare information system; similarly, all of a patient's clinical information entered into inSync automatically flows into that patient's electronic medical record at the hospital. This integration ensures a complete history for the patient as well as increased staff productivity, report accuracy, and improved business management processes. InSync runs on a Microsoft[R] Windows NT[R]-based, client/server platform, offering a graphical user interface and multitasking capabilities. InSync is the result of a joint venture between Medical Information Technology, Inc. (MEDITECH) and Patient Care Technologies, Inc. (PtCT), of Atlanta.

-- MEDITECH, Westwood, MA.

For more information circle 182

MCOs Partner in Disease Management

CarePatterns[R] is a multiprofile disease management portfolio to help managed care organizations (MCOs) reduce costs and improve outcomes in managing specific high-cost medical conditions. The heart of the system is CarePatterns' team of nurse educators, each trained on specific diseases before joining the company's national call centers. They provide patient contact and monitoring according to physician-approved treatment plans, follow-up patient education and customized outcomes reporting--all with case manager involvement levels prescribed by the MCO. The portfolio is customizable according to the member population demographics, disease profile, and organization budget. High incidence diseases covered include asthma, congestive heart failure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and peptic ulcer disease. Low incidence diseases covered include growth hormone deficiency, hemophilia, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, and pediatric RSV infection.

--Caremark Inc., Northbrook, IL.

For more information circle 186

Web-Based Electronic Medical Record

MedicaLogic debuted Logician[R] Internet, a Web-enabled physician documentation tool fashioned after one of the industry's most utilized client/server ambulatory care electronic medical record systems. The company simultaneously unveiled a new version of www.medicalogic.com, a comprehensive members-only Website destination channel for physicians and other clinicians designed to provide clinical content, discussion forums, access to reference material and e-commerce services. Logician [R] Internet offers downloadable software to create and store online EMRs using only a PC and an intermittent Internet connection. EMRs created on the system can be transported to the physician's clinic, hospital or private office. Other benefits of Logician[R] Internet include ease in creating HCFA-compliant documents, precise coding and quicker reimbursement, automated maintenance of patient summary data such as medications and allergy lists, and reduction of transcription costs.

--MedicaLogic Inc., Hillsboro, OR.

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Paperless Chart Management

AIC IMPACT is a paperless electronic medical records scanning and document imaging system that speeds chart-related workflow while saving up to one-third of chart management and transcription costs. The program integrates the entire management system of a medical office, providing improvements in records management, and insurance claims and accounts receivable processing. It transfers and centralizes a patient's entire chart, from X-rays and lab reports to referral letters and insurance forms, into an electronic medium. Transcriptionists can access a host of applications, such as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect and other Corel programs, Excel and many other titles. A voice recognition module is also available. Using an optional server, records are password-accessible from any workstation or remote locations.

-- Advanced Imaging Concepts, Louisville, KY.

For more information circle 192

Combo E-Commerce & Info Service

Embion Inc. launched a medical supply purchasing Website in October, striving to provide a broader range of buying services specifically for physician clinics. The Website (www.embion.com) provides one-stop shopping for pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and equipment and office supplies, and data about the clinic's purchasing patterns. The system is designed to help clinic administrators buy smarter, but also allows purchasers to maintain their existing contract relationships and pricing structure. The site uses an artificial intelligence capability, provided by technology partner NetPerceptions, to provide cost-tracking history and purchase recommendations for the clinics. On the supplier side, the site provides aggregate purchasing data to help suppliers target their marketing efforts, promote overstocks and encourage buying on slow days. Use of the Embion site is free to physician clinics and requires only basic PC or Macintosh hardware and a modem to operate.

-- Embion Inc., Minneapolis, MN.

For more information circle 183

Cardiovascular Disease Management ASP

healtheheart.com[TM], the first Internet-based cardiovascular disease management application service provider system, was unveiled for beta testing in November, with full system launching set for January 2000. The system allows physicians and other authorized practitioners to log on, register patients and create tailored treatment plans for their patients. After patient data such as blood sugar levels, cholesterol values, vital signs, and medical history is entered, the system analyzes the variables by referencing a library of thousands of treatment algorithms, protocols and medical treatment standards. It returns an analysis of the patient's risk factors and recommended mode of treatment or lifestyle adjustments. All entered data and record building is encrypted during transmission and behind firewalls on the healtheheart server.

--NetVentures Inc., Winter Park, FL.

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Wireless Point of Care Network

Datalux Corp. in November unveiled two new durable, low cost, low power consumption point of care network computers, the IPIX Series 100 and 200. Designed specifically for hospitals seeking high productivity in multistation networks at efficient pricing, the IPIX systems feature Citrix[R] independent computing architecture (ICA), wireless networking capabilities and a variety of mounting options. The IPIX 100 is a diskless computer, with the "thin" Linux operating system embedded in flash memory; it lacks an internal drive, preventing unauthorized file loading or downloading. The IPIX 200 is a "thick" network computer, featuring a hard drive and Windows 98 operating system. Both systems feature a National Semiconductor Geode GXm[TM] 266 MHz processor, 14.1-inch LCD panel, speaker and 100 BaseT Network interface.

-- Datalux Corp., Winchester, VA.

For more information circle 185

Quick Start to Database Utilization

Quick Start is a new program designed to assist healthcare providers to jump-start customer relationship management (CRM) or database marketing efforts and to avoid development of costly or sophisticated in-house databases and in-house technical expertise. It is a solution for organizations which, because of technical or budget constraints, cannot compile internal patient, accounting and encounter data into a sales and marketing database. The program combines a CRM data model from Customer Potential Management Corp. with InfoBase [TM] household level marketing information from Acxion Corp., Little Rock, AR. Fresh data from the two systems is brought to the healthcare organization's desktop via the Internet; it is accessible using any software supporting open database connectivity (ODBC) standards.

-- CPM Corp., East Peoria, IL.

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Wireless Workstation

The SC-2112 is a mobile, wireless workstation priced to offer a low cost of entry for budget-strapped healthcare organizations. While still offering a unique five-year technology guarantee, ensuring that users will benefit from their investments for nearly twice the usual life of healthcare technology, the SC-2112 is priced lower than other units in the Tremont line. All the SC-2000[TM] mobile workstations are designed to provide clinicians and nurses with convenient, reliable, real-time, point-of-care access to patient information. The unit features a 12-inch active matrix flat-panel screen, full size keyboard, and fully upgradeable Intel[R] Celeron[TM] Pentium II[R] and Pentium III[R] processor configurations. The unit also comes with memory-free batteries that provide up to 14 hours of continuous use.

--Tremont Medical, Aston, PA.

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Pen-Based, High-Resolution Flat Monitor

Mutoh America introduces the MVT-12S, a high-resolution, 12.1-inch flat panel display with a cordless electronic pen. The unit is designed to replace conventional computer monitors and provide pen-based input as well as display capabilities. The MVT-12S connects to standard Windows-compatible desktop computers and provides resolutions of 800x600 pixels. The device enhances medical records creation and financial transactions by its ability to display electronic forms and allowing the user to input data simply by writing on the display surface. It also supports such enhancement applications as handwriting recognition, signature capture and signature verification.

-- Mutoh America, Phoenix, AZ.

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Clinical Encoding Engine

HSS Inc. has introduced a new coding engine, Web. Logic[R], a component technology that Healthcare Information Systems (HIS) vendors can embed more seamlessly into their applications than the standard AccuCode interface. HIS vendors can then offer their end-user applications wire broadened clinical coding capabilities, but still retain outsource maintenance of the coding rules. The coding engine is available as a DLL for use with Windows 95, 98 and NT systems. Consultation is available for assisting with porting to non-Windows platforms.

-- HSS, Inc., Hamden, CT.

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Practice Management with Buying Power

Medibuy.com, an e-commerce site for medical supply procurement, broadened its market reach in November when it announced an alliance with physiciansite.com, an Internet portal designed to simplify physician practice management activities. Physiciansite.com, which already reaches a network of more than 400,000 physicians, will now feature medibuy.com's procurement services, including five levels of services for convenient online sourcing and buying medical and surgical products, commodity items, and capital equipment. Medibuy.com's eRFP service provides secure bid technology that allows buyers to submit electronic requests for proposals, which are distributed to qualified vendors. Another service, eAuction, provides buyers a shot at pre-owned and excess capital equipment, sold "as is" with little or no warranty. A notch up is Medibuy Certified, where preferred vendors offer high quality capital equipment at fixed pricing, but with 90-day warranties, service manuals, return options and want ad requests, eCatalog offers product purchasing at established contract or seller prices, click-and-buy access 24 hours a day to product information and online catalogs for hospitals, physicians, dealers and brokers.

--medibuy.com, LaMesa, CA

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Online Library, CME and Credentialing

Medsite has relaunched its Website (www.medsite.com) to offer a broader array of services beyond its original online medical bookstore. MedBookStore now offers a wider selection of medical books, software, journals and supplies, while a new service, Medsite University, provides online accredited continuing medical education (CME). Other enhanced features from the original site include a Clinical Medline, with powerful search capability, an online calendar highlighting important medical conferences, medical news, and a scheduling tool for the medical community. Medsite customers include physicians, nurses, medical students and pharmaceutical companies.

-- Medsite.com, New York, NY.

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Portable Ultrasound for a Variety of PC Platforms

Terason[TM] 2000 Handheld, the first truly portable ultra-sound system with in-the-probe ASIC technology, was unveiled at the RSNA conference in Chicago at the close of November. The unit features high-speed, FireWire connectivity and unique charge-domain processing that allows a high level of miniaturization. The Terason[TM] 2000 is a plug-and-play system that uses existing PC platforms, so clinicians can choose desktop, notebook, palmtop, or wearable configurations to operate the unit. It is designed for all major ultrasound applications by supporting frequencies from 2 to 10 MHz and linear-, curved- and phased array technologies. The new handheld unit will expand imaging opportunities, including use of its ability to provide data from off-site exam locations.

--Teratech Corp., Burlington, MA.

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Two-Way Wireless

Wireless MD has introduced a two-way wireless communication system that allows physicians to communicate with and retrieve data from hospital databases, pharmacies, and managed care organizations in realtime. While developed for platforms such as Motorola's PageWriter 2000x wireless communications center, the Palm VII connected organizer, the Wireless MD software permits communications capability through a variety of hardware devices, including pagers, PDAs, and laptop or desktop computers. The system has built an e-link server that enables data transfer to and from other users regardless of the technology operating systems the subscriber is using, eliminating the need for additional hardware or software.

--Wireless MD, Woodstock, GA.

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HMT Readers Want to Know ...

If your company has a new product or service announcement, please send a detailed release and color photo to: Products & Services Editor, Health Management Technology, 2500 Tamiami Trail North, Nokomis, FL 34275; Fax: 941-966-2590; e-mail: toni@healthmgttech.com.

We also encourage you to send news items about your company, including business activity, mergers, acquisitions, contracts, installations, events, research findings or reports, strategic alliances, involvement with or interpretation of legal or regulatory issues. Send news items to: Industry Watch Editor, Health Management Technology, 2500 Tamiami Trail North, Nokomis, FL 34275; Fax: 941-966-2590; e-mail: suzanne@healthmgttech.com.

Information may be used in our monthly print editions or as part of presentations at Health Management Technology online.