Phytel releases new version of its web-based Proactive Patient Outreach Solution

Phytel, the leading provider of information technology that empowers physician-led health improvement, today announced that version 5 of its web-based Proactive Patient Outreach Solution has been released and fully deployed to all of its customers. The new platform features help physicians achieve more effective population health management, while qualifying for rewards in multiple pay-for-performance programs that target various clinical conditions.

“New financial incentives are available to physicians who can demonstrate their performance on specific quality measures,” Steve Schelhammer, CEO of Phytel, said. “With the new logic that has been added to our Proactive Patient Outreach solution, physicians can now customize the most advanced release of our protocol engine to align their patient outreach efforts with quality and performance initiatives they are pursuing.” Phytel uses data from practice management systems, electronic medical records, hospital systems, and other data sources to create electronic registries that keep track of the preventive and chronic care services that have been provided to each patient. Incorporating nationally recognized, evidence-based protocols, the registry identifies gaps in care and triggers automated communication messages that let patients know when they need to make appointments to see their doctor.

Phytel’s version 5 update supports physicians with specific quality or P4P initiatives by allowing them to prioritize messaging by medical condition. For example, if a practice implements a diabetes quality care initiative it would be important to contact diabetic patients with gaps in care as quickly as possible. Setting diabetes as the top priority ensures these outreach messages are made first.

In addition, Version 5 of Proactive Patient Outreach enables the registry to match patients with multiple providers, ensuring that they get the right care at the right time. In a multispecialty group, for example, it’s not unusual for patients to be seeing a primary care physician and a specialist at the same time. An endocrinologist might be treating their diabetes, while their primary care doctor handles their hypertension and other problems. The new version ensures that patients are prompted to visit the appropriate doctor who is treating them for the specific condition.

Phytel’s solution also helps practices gain recognition from the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) as patient-centered medical homes. This designation, which is already helping some practices get substantial rewards in health plan pilots, requires the use of patient tracking and registry functions, preventive-care alerts, and care coordination based on evidence-based guidelines. Practices can meet many of these requirements by using Phytel.

In addition, Phytel makes it easier for practices to report performance data to CMS’s Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), so they can qualify for a 2 percent Medicare bonus. Instead of laboriously collecting and incorporating clinical information through the billing process, practices can use the Phytel registry to generate PQRI reports automatically. Where there are missing clinical data points, physicians can check off the appropriate boxes in the Web-based Phytel application.

Phytel’s quality reporting capability can also aid practices that plan to apply for EMR subsidies that are included in the HITECH economic stimulus package. To receive those subsidies of up to $44,000 per physician, practices will have to show that they’re using their EMRs to improve quality. Phytel generates lists of patients by specific condition to use for quality improvement, reduction of disparities, and outreach and send reminders to patients per patient preference for preventive and follow up care.

Version 5 of the Proactive Patient Outreach service takes an already proven solution and makes it even better. Whether a practice has an electronic medical record or not, Phytel can help it improve population health management, communicate better with patients, and obtain a variety of performance incentives.