HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced that seven of the top 10 healthcare companies have chosen its imaging and printing solutions to drive both clinical and financial value.
HP's products, solutions and services for the healthcare industry are being used across organizations to offset the impact of the economic recession, reimbursement cuts and the rise of "self pay." For example, HP helps healthcare companies to digitize medical records while helping with patient information, provide relevant and actionable guidance for patients on how to best manage their healthcare and new healthcare reform.
According to a Forrester Research report, one healthcare company saw a 35 percent reduction in document costs while improving production quality and boosting satisfaction metrics after implementing a document management solution.
Progressive healthcare companies such as Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Centra Health, Children's Hospital Boston, Cigna, Exempla Healthcare, Health Net, Humana, and San Juan Regional Medical Center have turned to HP for their solutions.
Digitizing and consolidating healthcare information
One of the biggest concerns for healthcare providers is keeping a complete patient health record in digital form. A high percentage of data, such as external test results, resides outside the patient record and often in multiple formats, such as paper, images, videos and dictation.
Healthcare providers and payers can consolidate this data into one file that is accessible to all providers using the HP Distributed Document Capture Solution for Healthcare. This enterprise content management software comprehensively streamlines and automates paper-based processes. HP multifunction printers (MFPs) capture and transform paper documents into digital images that are routed to a secure and centrally managed repository. The flow of the documents is then intelligently automated and optimized between people, clinical and business applications and devices anywhere in the world.
Allowing customers to use their existing IT investments, the HP Distributed Document Management Solution for Healthcare integrates with most clinical electronic medical record and business workflow applications as well as familiar software solutions, such as PeopleSoft, Lawson, Microsoft® Office and SharePoint platforms, and mobile devices. This gives employees instant access to the documents they need using the systems they already know and use every day.
Preventing fraudulent prescriptions
A practical alternative to costly preprinted prescription pads, the HP and TROY SecureRxTM Printing Solution enables healthcare organizations to print prescriptions with tamper-resistant security features using plain paper and their enterprise-class HP PCL5 LaserJet printers and MFPs. Overall, this solution can minimize costs, improve current device utilization and deliver a strong return on investment.
"Using HP LaserJet printers with TROY SecureRx technology allowed us to deploy a cost-effective electronic prescription solution," said Ben Clark, vice president and chief information officer, Centra Health. "Our physicians can now generate prescriptions simply and easily, and Centra can be confident that those prescriptions are protected from unauthorized duplication and fraud."
The HP and TROY SecureRx Printing Solution has seen significant adoption as hospitals and physicians implement more secure and digital solutions. Customers - including Centra Health, Children's Hospital Boston and San Juan Regional Medical Center - are experiencing increased time with patients, reduced costs of prescription printing and reduced calls from pharmacists to physicians to explain prescription notations.
Improving care for patients after they leave the hospital
HP Exstream can help hospitals with Patient Protection including care communication efforts after hospital discharge. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services is tracking hospital readmission rates - which cost roughly $17 billion a year - and implementing a payment penalty for hospitals with the highest readmission rates.
"It's vital for patients to understand the discharge summaries and transition-care instructions for medications, follow-up appointments and post-care directions," said Randy Hickel, worldwide healthcare consultant, Managed Enterprise Solutions, HP. "HP Exstream communicates in an easy-to-understand and actionable format, delivered in a way patients prefer: print, SMS text, email or fax."
Cigna, Health Net and Humana, among other healthcare companies, use the HP Exstream customer communications solution to communicate more efficiently and effectively with their members. Providers can significantly reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient outcomes with clear, easy to understand transition care instructions and discharge plans.
HP also recently announced HP Digital Health solutions based on the company's extensive portfolio of products, solutions and partners, as well as new products and applications that help advance telehealth adoption and accessibility for healthcare organizations and patients.
AI in healthcare shows promise in trials but needs real-world testing to ensure effectiveness