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Dan Cobb, with HealthMEDX, spoke at this year's LTPAC Health IT Summit.

This year's summit featured the unveiling of the latest Road Map for Health IT. The collaborative organizing the summit developed two previous versions, each building on the other. The latest LTPAC Health IT Road Map identifies the following nine goals for the next 24 months to capitalize on opportunities with current national initiatives and identify key activities:

• Leverage Existing Programs and Policies:  To successfully advocate for inclusion of LTPAC in both national and state HIT policies and programs designed to expand the adoption, use and exchange of health information for all Americans. 
• Certify LTPAC Vendor Solutions: Establish/extend EHR certification criteria to LTPAC providers to promote EHR adoption, coordinate care among healthcare settings to increase quality of care, and to prepare for possible provider incentives.
• Adopt and Use Health IT and EHRs: To support LTPAC provider adoption and use of HIT, electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs).
• Health Information Exchange: Foster the strongest inclusion and participation of LTPAC providers and vendors in emerging state health information exchanges (HIEs) and the national health information network (NHIN).
• Prioritize Transition of Care and Electronic Prescribing: Promote care coordination and continuity of care through the use of HIT during transition of care (TOC) periods and for electronic prescribing (e-prescribing).
• Focus on Person-Centered Health and Healthcare: Empower persons (consumers, patients, families, caregivers and practitioners) to expect, person-centered and person-directed outcomes (including wellness, independence and control) as they participate in healthcare systems, processes and activities.
• Showcase Valuable and Effective Use of Health IT Solutions: Move HIT in LTPAC from the phase pilot testing and demonstrations of value to becoming sustainable part of operations that continuously result in improved care quality, increased efficiencies, and cost-effectiveness.
• Promote and Disseminate Research: Define and advance an EHR/HIT research agenda that includes a focus on LTPAC and contains identified priorities.
• Strengthen LTPAC HIT Collaboration: Strengthen the effectiveness of the LTPAC HIT Collaborative and to achieve sustainability and viability as a volunteer organization.

The 2010 Summit program featured keynote speaker Eric Dishman, director of Health Innovation and Policy at Intel Corp., who challenged the audience to think about "gray technologies for global aging" and the best IT strategies for community-based care and care coordination tools that empower consumers. Long-term and post-acute care organizations provide a holistic model of care focused on health, wellness and medical management. By understanding the breadth of technologies needed to support the holistic approach to a person's health and wellness, LTPAC organizations can position themselves for the future. Dishman sees virtual continuing care retirement communities on the horizon with disruptive players ready to jump into this space if LTPAC organizations do not.

With federal initiatives shaping EHR and HIT investments and adoption, several speakers addressed the current policy environment. Although LTPAC organizations are not eligible for incentive payments, other opportunities are emerging through new grants and state Medicaid programs. LTPAC organizations are encouraged to engage with and monitor state HIT plans and state HIE initiatives to identify opportunities for participation and potentially funding. Both State HIE plans and Beacon grant recipients are required to engage LTPAC providers in their program development. The summit concluded with an opportunity for attendees to have their voice heard in a town hall dialogue with the contractor developing the report to Congress regarding un-incentivized providers.

The 2010 LTPAC HIT Summit brought together key national players, showcased current technologies and interoperability demonstrations, and challenged the audience with the following key actions:

• Establish IT strategies for community networks and community-based care.
• Participate in the annual summit and engage with speakers and policymakers. Feedback from attendees at last year's summit resulted in AHRQ funding.
• Leverage State HIT plans and State HIE initiatives to get engaged. LTPAC providers should begin developing relationships to begin exchanging information to support care coordination and delivery.
• Focus on care summaries as the building block for sharing critical information at the point of care. A technology-enabled patient summary, delivered in a timely manner, can have a significant impact on patient outcomes, quality and safety. LTPAC organizations coordinate care with many different care providers -- the ability to create and receive a patient care summary will have a significant impact on the health and wellness of the individuals served.
• Be persistent and proactive in striving for inclusion in the second round of meaningful use incentives. Monitor the current requirements for meaningful use and standards. Although they don't apply for receiving incentive payments today, they will shape HIT and EHRs in LTPAC.

A goal of the summit is to engage industry leaders in HIT, EHR and HIM to help shape policy and initiatives. Each year, the LTPAC Health IT Summit is instrumental in advancing the progress and roadmap. Plans are already underway for 2011. If you are engaged in planning and implementing EHRs and HIT, plan to attend next year's summit on June 13-14, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor.

Michelle Dougherty is director, Practice Leadership, AHIMA.