ChartLogic Launches Latest Version of Electronic Health Record

Most exhibits at this year’s meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons were technical in nature, featuring either new instruments to improve procedures or new devices to enhance treatment. Some though, had nothing to do with the operating room.

ChartLogic Inc., for instance, unveiled the latest version of its electronic health record (EHR), a computerized version of patients’ medical histories. Transitioning paper medical records to electronic form has been a top goal of President Obama—nearly two years ago, his administration issued new rules that rewards doctors and hospitals for the “meaningful use” of EHRs. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data, doctors and hospitals are eligible to receive as much as $27 billion over the next decade to buy equipment to computerize patients’ medical records. A doctor can get up to $44,000 under Medicare and $63,750 under Medicaid, while hospitals are entitled to receive millions of dollars, depending on their size.

While American health care is renowned for its advancements in medical technology and patient treatments, doctors and hospitals have been slow to embrace EHRs. Some experts estimate that only 20 percent of doctors and 10 percent of hospitals use basic electronic health records. The holdouts, however, soon may not have a choice: Starting in 2015, hospitals and doctors will be subject to financial penalties under Medicare if they are not using EHRs.

Electronic health records generally are maintained by the provider over time, and may include all of the key administrative clinical data relevant to a patient’s care under a particular provider, including demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data and radiology reports. The EHR automates access to information and has the potential to streamline the clinician’s workflow, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The EHR also can support other care-related activities directly or indirectly through various interfaces, including evidence-based decision support, quality management, and outcomes reporting.

ChartLogic’s latest version of its EHR, the ChartLogic 8, is offered on a software-as-a service (SaaS) basis, enabling doctors and healthcare institutions to access physician-oriented EHR systems without having to purchase expensive hardware. With SaaS (also known as “on-demand software”), the program is hosted on the vendor’s computers and accessed by users via the Internet. SaaS offers users two advantages, according to the company—first, it eliminates the need for an IT staff (to maintain the system), and second, it automatically updates the EHR program.

“For smaller medical groups, running ChartLogic 8 with SaaS is a convenient, cost-effective option,” said Brad Melis, ChartLogic founder and executive vice president. “They don’t need to invest in powerful servers and we will handle key HIPAA security requirements such as encryption and emergency data backup. This removes the need for back-up tapes in locked storage cabinets.”

In addition to the SaaS offering, ChartLogic 8 is fully compatible with the previous version (ChartLogic 7) and encompasses all of its features, including PrecisionVoice dictation technology and a patient portal, executives noted. ChartLogic 8 also provides a complete EHR suite that interfaces with more than 125 specialty medical practice management systems as well as the ChartLogic Practice Management System.

Founded in 1994, ChartLogic offers two EHR suites that include electronic medical records, medical billing software, document management and interactive patient education. The company is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.