Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts   2005 Annual Report

National Leader: Electronic Medical Records

Electronic Medical Records will improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of care and reduce administrative headaches for doctors and patients. How can we create a comprehensive system of Electronic Medical Records?

Technology works wonders in health care today, helping doctors administer life-saving treatment to patients. Technology is highly advanced in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, but much less so in the administration of hospitals and doctors' offices. At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, we believe that creating a system of comprehensive Electronic Medical Records is fundamental to keeping our promise "To Always Put Our Members' Health First."

Because we are determined to provide doctors and patients with the technological infrastructure required to improve quality and increase efficiency, we joined forces with 34 organizations to form the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative, (MAeHC), and provided the initial funding. The Collaborative's mission is to make Electronic Medical Records a reality in Massachusetts.

The records system created by the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative will:

• Provide doctors with a patient's full history, including medications, hospital notes, lab tests, and radiology studies
• Provide medical decision support—recommendations based on best clinical practices for a wide variety of conditions
• Increase administrative efficiency within the medical system

By mid-2007, three communities—Greater Brockton, Greater Newburyport, and North Adams—will be fully up and running. Almost 200 physician medical practices will be connected with their local hospitals, labs, radiology providers, pharmacies, and more. These three communities represent the first critical steps toward achieving the goal of comprehensive Electronic Medical Records in every Massachusetts city and town.

"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has played a pivotal role in launching the eHealth Collaborative and thus in beginning to build a system of Electronic Medical Records. This will not only dramatically improve the quality of care patients receive but also reduce costs by making the delivery of health care safer and far more efficient."
Micky Tripathi, President and CEO Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative

 

 

The Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative is the most advanced program of its kind in the U.S. It is a quintessential example of our commitment to collaborate with a wide variety of health care stakeholders to improve the system not only for our members but also for all the residents of Massachusetts.

 

Read further about our collaborative efforts…