Outside the Office: Patient Portals OD Excellence and PA eHealth Studying E-Reporting of Diabetic and Glaucoma Exams By John Sailer Monday, January 20, 2014 12:00 AM RELATED CONTENT HIGH TECH = HIGH TOUCH Integrating and Partnering Recalls and Reactivation What's on the Horizon for Patient Communication Systems? The Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority is conducting a statewide study in conjunction with primary eyecare providers on the effectiveness of electronically sharing medical records on compliance reporting for diabetic eye exams and glaucoma tests. The study is focused on the use of DIRECT messaging, a secure email system to share patient medical records and health information. “By sharing health information electronically, we expect ophthalmologists and optometrists to improve their compliance reporting for diabetic eye exams and glaucoma tests,” said Alix Goss, Pennsylvania health information technology coordinator and program director for the Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority. “By using technology, patients will have better care because doctors will have information when and where they need it.” The Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority is working with the OD Excellence alliance of eyecare professionals. The study is designed to track and analyze the reporting rate of referrals between optometrists and ophthalmologists. The study is open to optometrists and ophthalmologists who currently use, or are willing to install, DIRECT messaging, and incorporate qualifying patients in the study. For more information, contact Richard Sabbara at c-rsabbara@pa.gov. The Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority is an independent state agency that is working to meet federal requirements for eHIE (electronic health information exchange) in Pennsylvania. eHIE is the electronic sharing of health–related information among unaffiliated providers and organizations according to nationally recognized standards. Pennsylvania was awarded $17.1 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help establish a health information exchange. ■