Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Department of Corrections and the agency’s medical director, Dr. Scott Haas, received "Health IT Innovators Awards" at the recent Kentucky e-Health Summit.
The e-Health Summit was presented by the Kentucky e-Health Board and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and held in Lexington. The awards recognize advances in the implementation and day-to-day use of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) in the healthcare workplace.
The awards were established by the Kentucky e-Health Network (KeHN) Board and were the first awards of this type given by the KeHN Board. There were two award categories, one for an individual and one for an organization. However, the review committee felt that the implementation of the electronic medical record within the Department of Corrections, combined with Telehealth in the DOC, was an excellent example of this type of innovation and that Dr. Haas deserved the individual award recognizing his support/leadership of this innovation, according to the nominating committee.
The Department began implementation of an EMR system in November 2005 as a result of a collaborative effort between the DOC, the University of Kentucky and CorrectCare, Inc.
The tablet computers now used by DOC prison medical staff immediately update the official electronic medical record for inmates by sending information wirelessly to the EMR server. Once information is received any number of events may be triggered automatically, such as collecting labs, changing diets, adjusting medications or other treatments, or referral to a specialist.
In addition to the increased efficiency and ease of medical documentation, the technology also provides for consultation with non-DOC specialists without inmates ever leaving the institution. By a process named “e-contact,” a DOC physician may electronically provide health information, including photographs and video of the patient to an outside consultant through a system similar to e-mail. The consultant can then review the information and make treatment recommendations to the DOC physician who will follow up with the appropriate care. E-contacts provide timelier consultation, reduced consultation and transportation costs and increase public safety.
The Department of Corrections EMR and e-contact system was implemented statewide in June 2006.
(photo cutline: Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo (center) presented the Department of Corrections and the agency’s medical director, Dr. Scott Haas, (right), with awards during the recent e-Health Summit in Lexington. Dr. John Tarrant accepted the award on behalf of the Department of Corrections.