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Allscripts Debuts Machine Learning, Cloud-Based EHR System Avenel
Allscripts’ new machine learning EHR system offering is designed to reduce the time providers spend on clinical documentation.
This week at HIMSS18 in Las Vegas, Allscripts debuted a machine learning EHR system — Avenel — designed to reduce time spent on clinical documentation and boost EHR usability for providers.
The cloud-based EHR system is intended to function in ways similar to an app, rather than traditional EHR software.
“This new solution is not simply an iteration of legacy systems,” said Allscripts Solutions Development Executive Vice President Jim Hewitt. “It is an entirely new approach to the EHR. Our objective with Avenel is to get the technology out of the way, so clinicians can focus on the patient.”
Avenel was built on Microsoft Azure and integrates clinicians’ treatment patterns to generate reminders of preferences to providers for more efficient clinical documentation and clinical decision-making. The solution also offers healthcare organizations a secure, shared EHR to improve care coordination across facilities and care settings.
“We wanted to create a solution that drove a stake into the heart of clinicians’ frustrations about EHRs,” said Allscripts CEO Paul Black. “We spent a great deal of time meeting with clients and industry leaders to better understand why providers have been so unhappy with the first wave of EHRs. They want technology that works like they work, and thinks like they think.”
In an effort to improve EHR usability for providers, Allscripts designed the Avenel interface to mirror smartphone apps and be tablet-friendly. The EHR system also includes customizable dashboards.
Illinois-based Carlinville Area Hospital is already utilizing the Avenel EHR. The 25-bed acute care hospital offers inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services.
“We are happy to partner with Allscripts in developing and launching Avenel,” said Carlinville Area Hospital CEO Kenneth G. Reid. “Healthcare is changing so fast – and organizations like ours would rather be on the ‘disrupter’ side of the conversation than on the ‘disrupted’ side. Avenel promises to help us stay ahead of the demands of the industry.”
Cerner collaborates with Centrus Health for improved population health management
Elsewhere in EHR vendor news, Cerner recently partnered with Kansas City-based Centrus Health to create a population health management program designed to advance value-based healthcare delivery in the region.
The clinically integrated network includes North Kansas City Hospital, Shawnee Mission Health, the University of Kansas Health System, and independent physician practices affiliated with the Kansas City Metropolitan Physician Association.
Centrus Health plans to leverage Cerner’s health IT tools and data analytic capabilities to reduce the cost of healthcare in the area and improve patient health outcomes.
“This collaboration with Cerner aligns with our goal to increase the value of health care in Kansas City,” said Centrus Health Executive Director Chris Wilson. “With Cerner’s technology, proven track record of innovation and shared incentives, we will optimize our physician-led clinically integrated network to continue to provide high-quality, low-cost patient-centric care.”
Cerner associates will work with Centrus Health to optimize its value-based contracts with new innovations in health IT, as well as new business models. The health system will use Cerner’s population health management platform HealtheIntent for improved care coordination among the 1,600 physicians across Centrus Health facilities.
“Centrus Health and Cerner together have the unique opportunity to make a real impact on the quality and delivery of health care in the Kansas City metro area,” said Cerner President Zane Burke.
“As we work toward our shared vision of improving the patient and consumer experience, we are proud that local associates, colleagues and neighbors will reap those benefits,” he concluded.
Epic Offers new EHR-integrated AI-powered virtual assistant
Epic recently partnered with clinical documentation solutions provider Nuance Communications to offer a new EHR-integrated virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
The virtual assistant solution is designed to improve physician productivity and efficiency by streamlining EHR clinical documentation.
"Technology needs to be unobtrusive and support the process of providing high quality patient care," said Massachusetts General Physicians Organization Chief Medical Information Officer David Y. Ting. "Having Nuance's AI-powered virtual assistant technology embedded into Epic will help make a new generation of patient care a reality - for both clinicians and patients."
Epic users can now utilize Nuance’s virtual assistants for voice-activated clinical documentation within modules including Epic Haiku, Epic Rover, and Epic Cadence.
"These advancements represent a growing need for next-level conversational AI capabilities and we expect them to be a catalyst for changing how and what physicians are required to document in progress notes,” said Epic President Carl Dvorak.