- Email: [email protected]
The challenge of automation with multiple data sets
ithin the scope of comprehensive health care management and from the perspectives of case, utilization, disease, outcomes, quality, and demand management, essentially the same set of "processes" attempt to gather variable sets of information. As systematIc, integrated health care delivery continues to define itself from an industry focus, data collection requirements for the case manager take on a "du jour" attitude. The challenge of automation is awesome w h e n the need for multiple types of profoundly different information changes frequently.
iii ii'iii' ~ ~ ~ i
!~
'~iii
IMA Technologies' CaseTrakker software was designed to address this challenge. CaseTrakker provides an infrastructure for case management (CM) processes by providing a series of blank slates, the CaseTrakker modules, into which companies requiring a CM automation system m a y configure any combination of data fields they wish to capture. CaseTrakker software provides the ability to define information based on the "type" of case. Case managers within various practice settings who are tracking information by medical specialty or state and government regulations must gather case/client-specific data. CaseTrakker's security features direct and limit access to sensitive client data by authorized users. Episodes and events occurring over the continuum of care that require notes, service plans, care plans, document generation and management, assessments, timesheets, and schedule items are attached to the case, with capture of replicable information for prospective analysis and reporting. Remote off-line CM capabilities are offered through the CaseTrakker Voyager product. Using Voyager, case managers enter TCM 20
II1' ,y,
i! '
January/February1998
9 LTTY~g,-:~,
:
9
9
Hardware Requirements Windows NT or Novell 3.12 or greater on the server Windows 95 or NT on the workstations Pentium PCs Enterprise Version also requires SQL Server Cost
Approximately $10,000 for five-user CaseTrakker LAN version, excluding per diem on-site basic training. Pricing based on number of users and version type. Annual (optional) maintenance is 25% of license fees. data by laptop computers and reconnect to the main database for concurrent, reciprocal sharing of information. The combination of these capabilities--case-specific custom configuration of the database and remote site operation capability--makes CaseTrakker an attractive solution for direct providers of health care services and payers and managers of services over the entire health care community. Other CaseTrakker functions and options include: Data import and export functions for integration with other information systems 9
Ability to interface with standard criteria sets
based on the Enterprise version. Contact IMA Technologies regarding the family of CaseTrakker products by calling (800) 458-1114 or visit its webpage at http://urww.casetrakker.com.
A Word about the Web Excitement about information dissemination on the Web for all types of businesses continues to grow, and the health care industry is prime for exploitation of this medium. Pharmaceutical companies, health care delivery systems, learning institutions, health plan memberships, and advocacy/support groups offer a wealth of information on websites available at the click of a mouse. The ease and timeliness of retrieving such information would have been unthinkable even 3 years ago.
9 Data intake through faxed/scanned forms
9 Three-tier client/server architecture on remote and Enterprise versions 9
Automated messaging, case notification, report generation with RoboTrak option
An Enterprise version, using an SQL server, for large databases is now available. An Oracle release is planned for the second quarter of 1998, and a WebViewer product will be available to view passwordprotected case information and to enter notes through the Intemet or on intranets
Clearly, case managers and organizations delivering CM services recognize the value of Inter/intranet interaction. Forwardlooking companies plan to offer clients and members of the health care delivery team secured access to protected case information, while adding their own notes and comments. Purchase of cutting-edge technologies requires well-defined business strategies that are thoughtfully balanced with long-term financial and administrative goals and realities. The cost of creating a static webpage and the monthly domain server fee are relatively inexpensive because of a simple standard
publication format for browsing. Keep in mind that the greater cost of hardware, technical expertise, and high-speed Internet connection is absorbed by the Internet service provider. Providing dynamic database information, however, is quite a different scenario. Information database requests over the Web are facilitated in a similar fashion as report assembly. Each request produces information-gathering from the database with formatting for remote viewing. An on-site database server (computer) with a robust engine and a separate webserver running both web
and information server software are required to dynamically create each page. Skilled technicians are needed to maintain both on a full-time basis. Client computers that process information internal to an organization on an intranet require high-speed connections to intranet servers and browser software. Connecting these processes to the Internet further requires a high-speed, full-time connection to the Internet and becomes basically an Internet node. Large health care systems with hardware and internal IS staff and resources are
Turn to some of the nations' foremost practitioners for the treatment of eating disorder patients If one of your patients suffers from an eating disorder, you need expert help. The kind of help you can get at the Center for Eating Disorders at St. Joseph, in Baltimore, Maryland. As one of the leading centers in the country, we offer a complete, multi-disciplinary approach to treat anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. The aim of our highly trained, professional staff is to first gain patient trust, then help stop the destructive behaviors. Each patient receives an individualized treatment regime, which helps them understand and cope with internal conflicts. The new, beautiful facility at St. Joseph offers: 9 Inpatient Care and Day Treatment Options 9 Therapy - Individual, Group and Family 9 Nutritional Counseling 9 Support Groups
9 Psychoeducation 9 Pharmacological Support 9 Research Studies 9 Community and Professional Education
We've treated patients with these complex disorders from all over the country. So, the next time you need help, call us. Our experienced team of board-certified professionals and support staff will be pleased to arrange a consultation or referral. CAIHOLICHEALTH
7620 York Road, Towson, MD 21204-7582
410-427-2100
_
better positioned to provide Inter/ intranet information than small/medium CM organizations until Internet technology pricing moderates. Still, primary internet access provides rich resources for case managers waiting to be woven into a complete web within their health care system. GI
Diane Ward, RN, CCM, is a market segment manager for IBM Worldwide Healthcare Industry in Hawthorne, New York, and is home-based in Atlanta, Georgia. Reprint orders: Mosby, Inc., 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146-3318; phone (314) 453-4350; reprint no. 68/1167578
Case Management Along the Continuum March 16 - 18, 1998 Chicago An expert faculty will present state-of-the-art strategies in organizing, assessing & managing the case managment process. Examine updates on medicare changes, patient advocacy issues and learn new software solutions at this 4th annual conference.
Special Preconference: B a s i c E l e m e n t s of C a s e M a n a g e m e n t Other 9 9 9 9
Call for a brochure today//
t 9 9 8 c o n f e r e n c e s offered: Home Health Care Gerontological Nursing Pediatric Critical Care Nursing plus many, many more! Contemporary Forums 11900 Silvergate Dr., Dept.445 Dublin, CA 94568 (510) 828-7100, Ext.0 www.cfomms.com [email protected] (Dept. 445)
January/Febmary1998
TCM 21
iii ii'iii' ~ ~ ~ i
!~
'~iii
IMA Technologies' CaseTrakker software was designed to address this challenge. CaseTrakker provides an infrastructure for case management (CM) processes by providing a series of blank slates, the CaseTrakker modules, into which companies requiring a CM automation system m a y configure any combination of data fields they wish to capture. CaseTrakker software provides the ability to define information based on the "type" of case. Case managers within various practice settings who are tracking information by medical specialty or state and government regulations must gather case/client-specific data. CaseTrakker's security features direct and limit access to sensitive client data by authorized users. Episodes and events occurring over the continuum of care that require notes, service plans, care plans, document generation and management, assessments, timesheets, and schedule items are attached to the case, with capture of replicable information for prospective analysis and reporting. Remote off-line CM capabilities are offered through the CaseTrakker Voyager product. Using Voyager, case managers enter TCM 20
II1' ,y,
i! '
January/February1998
9 LTTY~g,-:~,
:
9
9
Hardware Requirements Windows NT or Novell 3.12 or greater on the server Windows 95 or NT on the workstations Pentium PCs Enterprise Version also requires SQL Server Cost
Approximately $10,000 for five-user CaseTrakker LAN version, excluding per diem on-site basic training. Pricing based on number of users and version type. Annual (optional) maintenance is 25% of license fees. data by laptop computers and reconnect to the main database for concurrent, reciprocal sharing of information. The combination of these capabilities--case-specific custom configuration of the database and remote site operation capability--makes CaseTrakker an attractive solution for direct providers of health care services and payers and managers of services over the entire health care community. Other CaseTrakker functions and options include: Data import and export functions for integration with other information systems 9
Ability to interface with standard criteria sets
based on the Enterprise version. Contact IMA Technologies regarding the family of CaseTrakker products by calling (800) 458-1114 or visit its webpage at http://urww.casetrakker.com.
A Word about the Web Excitement about information dissemination on the Web for all types of businesses continues to grow, and the health care industry is prime for exploitation of this medium. Pharmaceutical companies, health care delivery systems, learning institutions, health plan memberships, and advocacy/support groups offer a wealth of information on websites available at the click of a mouse. The ease and timeliness of retrieving such information would have been unthinkable even 3 years ago.
9 Data intake through faxed/scanned forms
9 Three-tier client/server architecture on remote and Enterprise versions 9
Automated messaging, case notification, report generation with RoboTrak option
An Enterprise version, using an SQL server, for large databases is now available. An Oracle release is planned for the second quarter of 1998, and a WebViewer product will be available to view passwordprotected case information and to enter notes through the Intemet or on intranets
Clearly, case managers and organizations delivering CM services recognize the value of Inter/intranet interaction. Forwardlooking companies plan to offer clients and members of the health care delivery team secured access to protected case information, while adding their own notes and comments. Purchase of cutting-edge technologies requires well-defined business strategies that are thoughtfully balanced with long-term financial and administrative goals and realities. The cost of creating a static webpage and the monthly domain server fee are relatively inexpensive because of a simple standard
publication format for browsing. Keep in mind that the greater cost of hardware, technical expertise, and high-speed Internet connection is absorbed by the Internet service provider. Providing dynamic database information, however, is quite a different scenario. Information database requests over the Web are facilitated in a similar fashion as report assembly. Each request produces information-gathering from the database with formatting for remote viewing. An on-site database server (computer) with a robust engine and a separate webserver running both web
and information server software are required to dynamically create each page. Skilled technicians are needed to maintain both on a full-time basis. Client computers that process information internal to an organization on an intranet require high-speed connections to intranet servers and browser software. Connecting these processes to the Internet further requires a high-speed, full-time connection to the Internet and becomes basically an Internet node. Large health care systems with hardware and internal IS staff and resources are
Turn to some of the nations' foremost practitioners for the treatment of eating disorder patients If one of your patients suffers from an eating disorder, you need expert help. The kind of help you can get at the Center for Eating Disorders at St. Joseph, in Baltimore, Maryland. As one of the leading centers in the country, we offer a complete, multi-disciplinary approach to treat anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. The aim of our highly trained, professional staff is to first gain patient trust, then help stop the destructive behaviors. Each patient receives an individualized treatment regime, which helps them understand and cope with internal conflicts. The new, beautiful facility at St. Joseph offers: 9 Inpatient Care and Day Treatment Options 9 Therapy - Individual, Group and Family 9 Nutritional Counseling 9 Support Groups
9 Psychoeducation 9 Pharmacological Support 9 Research Studies 9 Community and Professional Education
We've treated patients with these complex disorders from all over the country. So, the next time you need help, call us. Our experienced team of board-certified professionals and support staff will be pleased to arrange a consultation or referral. CAIHOLICHEALTH
7620 York Road, Towson, MD 21204-7582
410-427-2100
_
better positioned to provide Inter/ intranet information than small/medium CM organizations until Internet technology pricing moderates. Still, primary internet access provides rich resources for case managers waiting to be woven into a complete web within their health care system. GI
Diane Ward, RN, CCM, is a market segment manager for IBM Worldwide Healthcare Industry in Hawthorne, New York, and is home-based in Atlanta, Georgia. Reprint orders: Mosby, Inc., 11830 Westline Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146-3318; phone (314) 453-4350; reprint no. 68/1167578
Case Management Along the Continuum March 16 - 18, 1998 Chicago An expert faculty will present state-of-the-art strategies in organizing, assessing & managing the case managment process. Examine updates on medicare changes, patient advocacy issues and learn new software solutions at this 4th annual conference.
Special Preconference: B a s i c E l e m e n t s of C a s e M a n a g e m e n t Other 9 9 9 9
Call for a brochure today//
t 9 9 8 c o n f e r e n c e s offered: Home Health Care Gerontological Nursing Pediatric Critical Care Nursing plus many, many more! Contemporary Forums 11900 Silvergate Dr., Dept.445 Dublin, CA 94568 (510) 828-7100, Ext.0 www.cfomms.com [email protected] (Dept. 445)
January/Febmary1998
TCM 21