Old Hook Medical Associates Working To Make Healthcare Work Better

Until computerized networks became common inmedical practice, doctors in the same office or doctors treating the samehospitalized patient had to fax information or send someone to pick up a paperfile from another location. This was a costly, cumbersome, and error-prone wayto deliver healthcare but there weren’t many alternatives.

Today, electronic health records (EHR) and e-prescribing have eased manyof those issues but gaps still remain throughout the healthcare system. At OldHook Medical Associates in Emerson, NJ, EHR means that each of the morethan 20 physicians and mid-level practitioners in the group can call up a patient’srecords and see tests, treatments, medications, allergies, and a host of otherimportant medical information. The system notifies the doctors if a patient missesan appointment or doesn’t call for a regular screening on time.

But even the highly advanced OHM network can’t yet talk to computers outsidethe facility, for example, in a nursing home or rehab facility. Those patients canbe “off the grid” as far as medical records are concerned, and it’s back to theold fashioned way of moving information around. “Information has to be sharedor it’s not worth much”, said Dr. Edward Gold, VP and Chief Medical Officer forOHM. “Medical information needs to be analyzed and acted upon in a timelymanner among caregivers”.

OHM is in the forefront of solving these problems by seeking recognition as partof an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The healthcare law passed in 2010encourages the formation of ACOs to share information, boost quality, and helpcontain costs. Savings can be shared among the members of the ACO whichmay include physicians, hospitals, and other treatment facilities.

With shared information, doctors, and hospitals can better manage patientswith chronic diseases, prevent complications, and help eliminate medical ormedication errors. Health plans and Medicare are demanding more efficienciesfrom healthcare providers including enhanced coordination of care among allfacilities. The health plans are ready and willing to measure improvements andreward quality and efficiency.

OHM will continue its ongoing drive to ensure that patients benefit from today’sadvanced information technologies including its Patient Portal, which allowspatients to have secure access to their medical information 24/7 from any PC.OHM’s plan is ambitious but will result in improved patient care at lower costs.