Health Reform: Are You Ready?

Some great statistics and thought-provoking points about health reform in the US. The College also appreciates the catchy beat of the background music and the subtle sound effects built into the rhythms.

United, We Stand - Reimagining an Anthem for our Nation

The American College of Medical Informatimusicology normally focuses exclusively on the intersection of healthcare, informatics and music.  On occasion, however, we discard the shackles of protocol and discuss other topics of interest among Fellows of the College.  Our President and Founder, Dr. Ross Martin, recently made this submission, which we readily accepted in anticipation of our nation's upcoming independence celebration. 

A couple of weekends ago, PRI’s Studio 360 asked listeners to think about updating a couple of our traditional icons as we approach our annual 4th of July celebrations. One was Uncle Sam – what would a “mascot” for our nation look like today? The other, our National Anthem (which, according to one pole, 27% of Americans believe has a last line of “And the home of the brave… Play Ball!”).

I personally like our National Anthem a lot – it is a beautiful song with brave and poetic lyrics. But it is undeniably a challenge to sing for all but the upper tier of vocalists, with its greater than 1½-octave range (for perspective, Madonna never sings anything with more than a one-octave range, not that this is a shining example, but I hear she has made some money as a singer).

So last weekend, I posted a reimagining of the National Anthem in response to the Studio 360 challenge based on some Infinite Poetry® I wrote after 9/11. Let me know what you think… The song and a quickly assembled video are posted on YouTube.

It’s a simple song with only five lines that intuitively cycle back on themselves, so they are easy to remember:

…United, We Stand
Standing, We Rise
Rising, We Soar
Soaring, We’re Free
Free, We Unite
United, We Stand…

The simplicity of the song makes it easy to add parts, variations on the theme and personal interpretations—which reflects, to me, the bedrock of what makes our nation such a compelling and inspirational place: simple principles that allow for diversity and creative growth to live in harmony.

If you like it, please vote for it (you may have to join the group to vote). You can also leave a comment or “like” the video (you will need a Google or YouTube account).

Thanks for taking a look. If my submission is one of their favorites, it will be mentioned on the show this holiday weekend. Fame and fortune are sure to follow, so my future is in your hands…

;-)

Happy 4th!

World's Leading Informatimusicologist Headlines at LTPAC Conference June 7, 2010

This press release was recently issued by the American Health Information Management Association:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 6, 2010

ERIC DISHMAN AND ROSS MARTIN TO KEYNOTE LTPAC HEALTH IT SUMMIT

Interoperable Healthcare and Health Information Exchange to Empower the Aging Population

Alexandria, VA— Eric Dishman, director of Health Innovation and Policy for Intel's Digital Health Group, will keynote day one of the sixth Long Term and Post Acute Care (LTPAC) Health IT Summit, June 7-8, in Baltimore, MD. Mr. Dishman will be presenting on how providers and caregivers of the elderly can incorporate integrated technology to provide a higher level of quality care and wellness. Dishman is widely recognized as a global leader in driving healthcare reform through home and community-based technologies and services, with special focus on enabling independent living for seniors. 

The world's leading medical informatimusicologist, Ross Martin, will headline day two of the Summit. Dr. Martin is a Senior Manager in Healthcare and Life Sciences at Deloitte Consulting LLP, where he focuses on the technology standards and policies that support the convergence of clinical research and clinical care.  He currently serves as a subject matter advisor at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.  Martin will present on health information exchange to ensure best outcomes and care coordination and will also share his chart-topping health IT standards development organization song.

The 2010 LTPAC HIT Summit is the only HIT program for the long-term and post-care fields and offers attendees the opportunity to focus on LTPAC national policy strategies and industry updates through lively forums and expert-led seminars. In addition, this important event will unveil a new HIT roadmap for 2010-2012.  The Summit also features case studies, an exhibit hall, and Interoperability Showcase.

The 2010 LTPAC Health IT Summit will take place at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore on the Inner Harbor, June 7-8. For more information, including registration and hotel accommodations, visit the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) website at www.ahima.org/events/ltchitsummit.

The Long-Term Care Health IT Summit is sponsored by the American Association for Homes and

Services of the Aging (AAHSA) and the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST); the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL); the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA); the American Medical Directors Association (AMDA); the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP), the National Association for the Support of Long-Term Care (NASL); and the National Association of Home Care and Hospice (NAHC).

More proof that self-proclamation of domain preeminence will make it so if it is picked up by the press…  So what will you claim for your own world's leading status?  NB: I've already got dibs on medical Informatimusicology and unicycle basketball, so go find your own!

Meaningful Yoose Rap

Reports from the field indicate that a lone rapper has been found stalking locales known to be frequented by the healthcare technoratti set, most notably the HIStalk reception at the 2010 HIMSS conference in Atlanta in early March. Rumors have now been substantiated as an alert iPhone owner captured this footage:


The rapper, identifying himself only as Dr. HITECH, is rumored to be related to or possibly the same person as our own Ross D. Martin, MD, MHA, FACMI, president, founder and, as yet, sole member of our illustrious College.



We do not see the resemblance, but cannot deny that this clever bit has all the markings of true lyrical master craftsman. We invite him to apply for entrance into the College should he be found worthy. But we insist that he renege on his claim to the mantle of Dr. HITECH, which clearly belongs to the purveyor of the now-classic HITECH Interoperetta.

One last note: Our careful research has decrypted the lyrics from this rather poor quality rap video. We offer them here in defiance of all copyright infringement claims.

Meaningful Yoose

Say Yo! (Yo!)
C’mon say Yo! (Yo!)
Say H-I-T (H-I-T)
Say H-I-T (H-I-T)

Yo, all you doctors won’t you lend me an ear
While this wannabe hip-hopper sez what’s goin’ on here
Just take a look at the HITECH Act
It says EHR and you say, “Tell me somethin’ new, Jack!
EHRs have been around for a while
They cost an arm and a leg and then they cramp your style”
You do a double-take—“Yo, Home, now how can this be?
It says Uncle Sam is lookin’ to give some money to me!”
And so I’m here to tell you that this message is for real
But there’s just one way to make it into this deal
Goin’ paperless ain't nothing if you ain't got the juice
You got to interoperate and show some Meaningful Yoose

Two-oh-eleven's when the money starts to flow
So you bettah listen up to hear the things you need to know
You need an EHR that does interoperability
And gets a thumbs-up from a certifying entity
They’ll put it through the paces and make certain it’ll jive
With all the bits, bytes and regs—then it’s time for you to drive
If you do what I say, you won't be chasin’ a wild goose
You’ll be on your way to showin’ Meaningful Yoose

Meaningful Yoose, Meaningful Yoose
Gettin’ things done with your Meaningful Yoose
Use a CCR or a CCD
For shootin’ out a patient record summary
E-prescribin’, med history and formulary benefit
Out a doubt NCPDP is a sure bit
Admin transactin’ with X12 forty-ten
PQRI for quality reportin’
Public health exchanges usin’ HL7
That's how we’re makin’ changes in two-thousand-eleven for
Meaningful Yoose, Meaningful Yoose
Takin’ care of patients with your Meaningful Yoose

By now you're prob’ly thinkin’, “Man, somethin’ ain’t right—
This boy don't got the moves and his rappin’ ain’t tight”
You got that one straight—I may not be too cool
But this message is important, so I’m willing to play the fool
Now tip your hats to the cats from the ONC
They’re the ones under the gun to set the stimulus dough fre
Startin’ state HIEs and makin’ Beacons from Communities
Fundin’ SHARP and training and RECs
All the cash is movin’ out so there will be no excuse
For not puttin’ patients first and doin’ Meaningful Yoose
So get hip to what I'm sayin’—cut the power loose
And get your forty-four Gs or more for Meaningful Yoose
Start making things happen doin’ Meaningful Yoose
Put the patient first and do some Meaningful Yoose