March, 2008

Medical Informatics Engineering announces collaboration with Google Health

Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) has announced a collaborative relationship with Google Health. Google Health, which was previewed to the healthcare IT community at the HIMSS08 Conference in Orlando last week by Google CEO Eric Schmidt, is currently being piloted at the Cleveland Clinic and is expected to be released to the public in the near future.

The Minimally Invasive^TM WebChart electronic health record portfolio from MIE will be fully integrated with Google Health, and enable consumers and physicians to share information electronically. MIE products are completely Web-based, giving physicians secure, anytime/anywhere access to patient records without significant up-front investment. In addition, WebChart is tailored to fit the workflow of each practice and each physician, minimizing practice upheaval.

MIE also offers m.i.EMR, an electronic medical record for small and solo practices looking for a low-cost EMR with basic functionality. This version of WebChart is an ideal EMR entry point for many physicians at only $100 per clinician, per month.

"Google Health gives patients the ability to collect, store and manage their medical records online," explains MIE executive vice president Peter Norder. "As tech-savvy patients begin to actively use Google Health, they will quickly realize that most physicians still use paper-based medical records. Some patients will ask their physicians to adopt electronic health records systems that are fully interoperable with Google, or may even gravitate to physicians who have already done so. Physicians, in turn, will seek out solutions like WebChart that are affordable, flexible, accessible and interoperable."

MIE will integrate its EHR portfolio with Google Health so that consumers and physicians can share health information easily and securely. Physicians and their patients alike will benefit as the practice can access important information including medications, allergies, medical conditions and other health data from Google Health users if they grant access. Physicians can easily import this information into their WebChart EMR without interrupting practice workflow, and the information can contribute to improved coordination of care and reduced costs. Patients can also import new information provided by their physicians into their Google Health accounts, thereby building a comprehensive and secure view of their health that can be easily managed and shared with caregivers and other healthcare providers.

February, 2008

Medical Informatics Engineering demonstrates EMR integration with Microsoft HealthVault at HIMSS08 Annual Conference

Medical Informatics Engineering is demonstrating how its Minimally Invasive^TM WebChart EHR portfolio shares medical information with Microsoft HealthVault at the HIMSS08 Annual Conference in Orlando.

"By integrating our electronic health record products with HealthVault, we enable consumers to share health information with their physicians and other care providers via the Web," explains MIE Executive Vice President Peter Norder. "As consumers use Internet platforms like HealthVault to manage healthcare for themselves and their families, they are expecting their doctors to do the same."

WebChart products implemented in physician offices will import information from HealthVault, incorporating patient-supplied data into the practice electronic medical record. Physicians can also send encounter information from WebChart back to the patient’s HealthVault account. This electronic exchange of data will improve the coordination of care, reduce healthcare costs, and will reduce duplication of services and medical errors.

"Today’s healthcare system is an extremely fragmented market, and needs solutions that accelerate connections between consumers, physicians, and the information they need to make smart health decisions," said Peter Neupert, corporate vice president for the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft Corp. "Building on HealthVault , WebChart has the potential to improve patient-provider interactions and, as a result, enable better treatment outcomes."

HealthVault is a free Web-based platform designed to put people in control of their health data. It helps them collect, store and share health information with family members and participating healthcare providers, and it provides people with a choice of third-party applications and devices to help them manage things such as fitness, diet and health. HealthVault also provides a privacy- and security-enhanced foundation on which a broad ecosystem of providers - from medical providers and health and wellness device manufactures to health associations - can build innovative new health and wellness management solutions to help put people in control of their and their family’s health.

Currently, EHR penetration in physician practices hovers at the 20 percent mark nationally. "As HealthVault and other consumer platforms help to drive physician adoption of electronic medical record systems like WebChart, physicians will in turn choose systems that are flexible enough to match their budgets and importantly, their established workflows," adds Norder. "Our Web-based systems are minimally invasive, fully interoperable, affordable and configured specifically for the needs of each practice and each clinician."

October, 2007

Medical Informatics Engineering announces support for Microsoft HealthVault

Medical Informatics Engineering announced support for Microsoft Corp.'s new HealthVault consumer health platform launched today at an event in Washington, D.C. HealthVault provides consumers with the ability to search, store and connect their health information, simplifying management of their health and wellness.

"As new platforms like HealthVault help consumers harness the power of the Internet to take a more active role in health management, we expect physician practice adoption of Web-based electronic health record (EHR) solutions to accelerate," said MIE Executive Vice President Peter Norder. "Like their patients, healthcare providers are expressing increased interest in online EHR solutions."

MIE built one of the first commercially viable RHIOs in the mid-90's, and today nearly 95 percent of Northeast Indiana healthcare providers can access this infrastructure to exchange clinical messages. The wires and pliers effort required to build this network drove the development of the Minimally Invasive^TM EHR portfolio - a fully interoperable and integrated line of Web-based EMR, RIS/PACS and Document Management products designed to minimize practice upheaval and help physicians realize the maximum return on their EHR investment.

"Companies such as MIE are taking a leadership role in developing EHR solutions for HealthVault," said Peter Neupert, Corporate Vice President for the Health Solutions Group at Microsoft. "The Minimally Invasive EHR portfolio from MIE helps foster the physician adoption of healthcare IT, enabling providers to better connect with patients and caregivers."

July, 2007

Kettering Radiologists Imaging Centers awards RIS/PACS contract to Medical Informatics Engineering

Kettering Radiologists Imaging Centers of Southwestern Ohio announced the selection of the Minimally Invasive^TM WebChart RIS/PACS system from Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE). The MIE system will enable Kettering Radiologists to manage incoming studies from their imaging centers and multiple clients through a shared worklist, to rapidly create final reports and provide results to clinicians via WebChart. WebChart integrates Web-based dictation and transcription workflow modules with the capability to access images any time, anywhere via the Internet, thereby improving information delivery and reducing time to treatment.

"We compared MIE feature for feature against the major PACS vendors, and every company was able to meet our basic milestone requirements," said Ronald Fadell, MD, Kettering Radiologists President. "What set MIE apart was their single platform, web-based, natively integrated RIS and PACS offering - they were the only company that did not have to interface separate RIS and PACS systems."

"We conducted a deliberate, goal-driven evaluation process, with an emphasis on selecting a solution that would complement our workflow," added Lisa Engel, Kettering's Practice Manager.

According to Engel, every aspect of the WebChart workflow solution can provide benefit to Kettering. The Imaging Centers will utilize the WebChart scheduling module to standardize scheduling at all locations, regardless of which office receives a call. Workflow will then be audited and user-specific worklists designed to improve productivity and asset allocation will be generated. Radiologist workflow will also be dramatically improved, as WebChart lessens the dependence on human intervention to prepare studies for reading - especially studies from outside clients.

"Our flexible WebChart RIS/PACS architecture can be rapidly configured to fit the unique workflow at Kettering Radiology," added MIE executive vice president Peter Norder. "Implementation at Kettering is under way, and the system is scheduled to go live in September."

Kettering Radiologists has two imaging centers, an interventional radiology center, and is associated with four hospital-based sites. Kettering Radiologists will also deploy WebChart to enhance existing services provided to their multiple teleradiology accounts. Regarded as one of the finest radiology practices in Ohio, the KRIC team of Fellowship trained, Board Certified radiologists specialize in neuroradiology, musculoskeletal imaging, interventional radiology and mammography.

July, 2007

Medical Informatics Engineering adds PQRI module to Minimally Invasive WebChart EMR system

Medical Informatics Engineering today announced the addition of a Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) module to its WebChart electronic medical record system. This module automatically generates the data required for the PQRI voluntary reporting program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, making it easier for practices to qualify for the 1.5 percent PQRI bonus payment.

The WebChart PQRI module was developed with significant physician input. According to Dr. Michael Mirro, American College of Cardiology trustee and chair of the ACC HIT Committee, "The most practical challenge to participating in the PQRI program and realizing its financial benefits is that in order to collect the clinical data required for reporting, you either have to add significant overhead or have advanced information systems capable of providing the information at low or no cost to the practice."

"The MIE PQRI module enables seamless data collection at the point of care," said Mirro. "It allows your practice to capture data electronically without adding overhead, so you can realize the full benefit of the 1.5 percent Medicare reimbursement. We’re even seeing physicians who are establishing the return on investment for their EMR with PQRI as a significant component."

"MIE’s ability to listen to the medical community and rapidly develop this cost-effective quality reporting module really showed us that whatever quality initiatives insurance companies or the government send our way, we can find a solution for outpatient care," added Dr. Jay Alexander from North Shore Cardiologists in Bannockburn, Illinois. "Anyone that purchases an EMR and is interested in how that EMR can be modified to fit changes in healthcare, especially pay for performance and other reporting initiatives, should look at how simple this was."

As patient encounters are documented, WebChart automatically populates the PQRI module based on 74 unique measures identified by CMS for the 2007 PQRI program. WebChart also makes it easy to document allowable performance exclusions. The WebChart PQRI module then generates specific CPT® II quality-data codes associated with each measure, which are submitted as part of each claim.

"From a practice management point of view, this tool is so simple to use that even doctors who are electronically challenged find it easy," added Dr. Mirro. "Implementation was seamless, and even physicians who hardly know how to use a computer had no trouble."

Dr. Alexander concurs. "It’s amazing how easily 12 other physicians in our practice have gotten on board with EMR and PQRI. Thanks to MIE, we were able to find a good solution to streamline the process."

April 2007

Medical Informatics Engineering is first EMR vendor to receive CORE Certification

Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) is the first EMR vendor certified by the CAQH Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE) this week, after demonstrating that its WebChart EMR can successfully interoperate with participating health plans and healthcare providers.

CAQH, a nonprofit alliance of leading health plans, networks and trade associations, has developed standard business rules for information exchange that enable healthcare providers to electronically access health insurance eligibility and benefit information in a matter of seconds. These rules build on the HIPAA eligibility (X12 270/271) transaction.

Providers currently call health plans to obtain and verify insurance information, or they use online interfaces provided by individual health plans. This time-consuming process requires medical practices to devote significant staff resources to confirming insurance coverage.

Providers utilizing the MIE WebChart EMR can now automate the process of securing health plan information. In advance of a patient appointment, the WebChart EMR will generate an ANSI-270 message to the patient health plan. Within seconds, the health plan will issue a comprehensive ANSI-271 response that includes verification of health insurance eligibility and information on plan coverage, deductibles and co-pays. This information will automatically populate the EMR and become part of the patient medical record. This transaction not only saves provider and health plan administrative staff time, it enables the practice to collect co-pays at the time of service and can reduce eligibility-related bad debt and claims denials.

"CORE Certification underscores our commitment to interoperable electronic communication," stated MIE executive vice president Peter Norder. "We were in the first group to receive CCHIT^SM Certification for our WebChart EMR, and now we are the very first EMR vendor to receive CORE Certification."

"Interoperability is a critical building block in our minimally invasive EHR strategy," added Norder. "We develop and deploy EHR solutions that improve efficiency while minimizing practice upheaval, IT investment and custom integration requirements."

In addition to MIE, nearly 20 leading health organizations have begun voluntarily exchanging patient administrative data in accordance with the CORE rules, including Aetna, Inc., Mayo Clinic, and WellPoint, Inc. and its 14 Blue Cross and Blue Shield-licensed subsidiaries.

March 2007

MIE Sponsors Satellite Symposium at American College of Cardiology

Dr. Michael Mirro, ACC Trustee and Chair of the ACC Informatics Workgroup, presented a Satellite Symposium in conjunction with the ACC Conference entitled The Minimally Invasive Approach to Selecting and Implementing an EMR: A Cardiology Practice Perspective. This symposium, supported by an educational grant from MIE, provided attendees with a practical methodology for selecting and implementing an electronic medical record system based on the experiences of Dr. Mirro’s 21 physician cardiology practice. Dr. Mirro presented compelling evidence on the importance of adopting electronic health record technology, with an emphasis on selecting affordable, Web-based systems that can be implemented in an incremental fashion tailored to individual practices and physicians. Dr. Mirro demonstrated the clinical decision support functionality that was customized for the WebChart EMR system used by his practice. During a patient encounter, the WebChart EMR reviews quality of care guidelines for patients with congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease and presents on-screen alerts. Physicians can then use the system to enter the appropriate orders and print out prescriptions and patient education material.

March 2007

MIE Participates in HIMSS07 Interoperability Showcase

MIE successfully demonstrated the ability to interoperate, or share electronic health information, with a variety of other Electronic Health Record (EHR) system vendors at the HIMSS07 Interoperability Showcase. Staged as part of the recent 2007 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, the Showcase depicts realistic clinical scenarios enabled by the standards-based Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) framework. The clinical scenarios highlighted the power of electronic medical records systems like the CCHIT^SM Certified WebChart 4.23 EMR to seamlessly pass health information among care providers. MIE was the only participating company to demonstrate the capability to obtain detailed insurance benefit coverage information from a health plan in accordance with CORE Phase 1 rules.

October 2006

MIE participates in IHE Connectathon, prepares for RNSA Image Sharing Demo

MIE participated in the IHE Connectathon in preparation for the Image Sharing Demonstration at the upcoming RSNA conference in Chicago. During the Connectathon, MIE successfully exchanged information with complementary systems from other vendors, performing all of the transactions required in support of defined integration profiles.

These integration profiles serve as guidelines for implementing standards to achieve clinical care interoperability. Radiology guidelines that will be demonstrated at RSNA include:

• Cross-Enterprise Document Sharing for Imaging (XDS-I): This profile specifies standards for sharing DICOM images, diagnostic reports and related information across a network of care sites.
• Teaching File and Clinical Trial Export (TCE): This profile specifies standards for selecting DICOM images and related information and exporting them to teaching file authoring or clinical trials management systems

October 2006

MIE Joins Electronic Health Record Vendors Association (EHRVA)

MIE is now a member of the EHRVA, an industry trade association that addresses national efforts to create interoperable electronic health records in hospital and ambulatory care settings. The primary mission of the EHRVA is to provide a forum for the EHR vendor community relative to standards development, certification, interoperability, performance and quality measures, and other EHR issues as they become subject to increasing government, insurance and provider driven initiatives and requests. The association is a partner of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Membership in the organization requires a majority vote by the general EHRVA membership.

"We look forward to working with our peers to support increased adoption of EHRs across the health care system," says Peter Norder, MIE executive vice president. "Organizations such as the EHRVA, CCHIT and IHE provide an important platform for EHR industry advancement, and we recognize the value of contributing to their efforts."

September 2006

MIE Takes WebChart PACS to Northwest Florida

MIE has expanded its presence in the northwest Florida market with the selection of WebChart PACS by Southern Orthopedic Specialists in Panama City, Fla. The practice chose WebChart PACS based on its ability to improve workflow and patient care through rapid access to x-ray and MRI images. The physicians of Southern Orthopedic Specialists can now view images in any exam room in multiple offices without the delay of waiting for film to be processed. Completed x-rays go directly into WebChart for immediate image viewing.

September 2006

Michigan-based radiologists replace previous RIS/PACS system with WebChart RIS/PACS

Southgate Radiology in Southgate, Mich., chose MIE’s WebChart RIS/PACS to replace its current PACS system. Southgate Radiology cited improved workflow capability, MIE’s willingness to perform custom integration work, compatibility with their current voice recognition system, and WebChart affordability as the reasons for replacing their existing RIS/PACS with WebChart RIS/PACS. WebChart PACS is up and running, while the RIS module is being customized to adapt to Southgate Radiology workflow requirements.

September 2006

Existing MIE client adds WebChart PACS modules upon expansion

Fort Wayne Neurological Center, one of the first MIE WebChart EMR clients, recently expanded their services by adding an MRI system. Consequently, center administrators elected to enhance their existing WebChart EMR by adding WebChart’s PACS module, enabling clinicians to view images digitally rather than on film. Fort Wayne Neurological Center and referring physicians now have the ability to view patient images inside their existing WebChart EMR solution. The entire WebChart solution is tightly integrated with the systems of their radiology partner. The result is seamless, real-time electronic communication resulting in enhanced patient care.

"We have eliminated chart rooms and file storage from our practice locations," explained Steve Smith, practice administrator for Fort Wayne Neurological Center. "Staff no longer has to spend time looking for or taking apart charts to locate information that needs to be faxed. WebChart allows staff to access the charts from their desks, simultaneously, in real-time and from multiple locations. Physicians can now go to the clinic with a laptop instead of a briefcase full of charts. Gone are the days of shipping charts across town and waiting for them to get there. Lost charts are a thing of the past."

August 2006

WebChart PACS available on the first day of business

Doctors and patients affiliated with Angola, Ind.-based Tri-State Medical Imaging are spared the tedium of requesting paper medical charts thanks to the center’s proactive adoption of WebChart PACS from MIE. This flexible system went live prior to Tri-State Medical Imaging’s first day of business, and is fully integrated with the WebChart PACS system of Fort Wayne Radiology, its outside radiology partner who interprets studies from all modalities. Reports are electronically stored in TSMI’s PACS and are available for printing, faxing and online viewing by referring physicians. The outpatient imaging center is linked to Cameron Memorial Community Hospital, also an MIE WebChart PACS user, and local physicians who may view captured images online via any standard Web browser.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

MIE’S WEBCHART RECEIVES CCHIT CERTIFICATION

Software complies with 100 percent of certification criteria

JULY 18, 2006 – The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT^SM) today announced that Medical Informatics Engineering, Inc. is CCHIT Certified^SM for its product, WebChart version 4.23, and meets CCHIT ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) criteria for 2006. Ambulatory EHRs are designed for physician offices and clinics where most Americans get their healthcare. CCHIT is the recognized authority in the United States for certifying EHR products - an independent, nonprofit, public/private organization that sets the benchmark for healthcare information technology.

As a CCHIT Certified product, MIE’s WebChart has been tested and passed inspection of 100 percent of a comprehensive set of criteria for:

• functionality (ability to create and manage electronic records for all patients, as well as automating workflow in a physician’s office),
• interoperability (ability to receive and send electronic data to other entities such as laboratories), and
• security (ability to keep patients’ information safe).

June 2006

MIE Contributes WebChart EMR System to Pandemic Flu Drill

With concerns mounting over the potential outbreak of an avian influenza pandemic, Allen County, Ind. health and emergency management officials conducted a countywide drill to test their ability to set up a mass treatment facility. Central to the success of the exercise was the use of a customized WebChart EMR from Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE). A bar-coded patient record sheet was created for each mock patient treated during the drill, and medications ordered were bar coded and checked against information on patient wrist bands. Patient information was entered in the WebChart EMR, creating a record of each patient encounter. Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan deemed the drill a success, and praised MIE for donating WebChart and providing on-site expertise.

June 2006

MIE Supports Healthcare Access Program Serving the Uninsured

Managing the medical needs of uninsured and low-income residents is a challenge for Northeast Indiana health care providers, but the local Healthcare Access Program (HAP) is proving the benefits of electronic health record (EHR) technology. The HAP program serves patients via a network of clinics and hospital emergency departments. Until recently, there was no practical way for HAP providers to share patient medical information. That changed when HAP implemented WebChart EMR from Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE). This application allows providers to document clinical encounters and create an electronic medical record for uninsured patients. That record can then be shared among HAP providers via the Med-Web, a secure communications infrastructure also provided by MIE. According to Dr. Amy Dawson, medical director for Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic, "It helps us improve continuity of care." Doug Boss, associate director of Fort Wayne Medical Information’s residence program, adds "It’s faster care, it’s better care and frequently it’s cheaper care."

May 2006

MIE participates in TEPR Clinical Documentation Challenge

Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) successfully participated in the Clinical Documentation Challenge at TEPR 2006. The Clinical Documentation Challenge allows electronic health record (EHR) suppliers to demonstrate product performance using real-world scenarios. During this year’s challenge sessions, a physician and patient role-played an outpatient encounter based on one of three clinical scenarios proposed by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHITSM). Clinicians representing EHR suppliers are given 7 minutes to demonstrate how they would document the encounter, and 3 minutes to review system output and highlight product features and benefits.

February 2006

HIMSS Interoperability Showcase

Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) demonstrated the plug and play benefits of its WebChart EMR at the 2006 HIMSS Interoperability Showcase. During the Showcase, EMR and PHR suppliers shared medication, allergy and other diagnostic information in a structured and secure RHIO using standards-based specifications developed by Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE). According to MIE vice president of business development Peter Norder, "WebChart is particularly well-suited for the RHIO environment, as MIE established one of the oldest and most successful RHIOs in the mid-90’s. Our RHIO, the Med-Web, was designed with interoperability in mind, and the ability to plug and play extends to our full EHR product offering."

January 2006

MIE helps practice reclaim space and improve efficiency

WebChart EMR from MIE is helping Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology (IG&H) reclaim space and improve back office efficiency by converting paper charts to electronic records. Meanwhile, IG&H’s providers are using customized encounter templates ensuring the capture of granular data so valuable to the practice. "We chose MIE for multiple reasons including its flexibility and impressive scanning capabilities," explained Dr. Micharl Morelli of IG&H. "It has improved my efficiency greatly and has already contributed to cost savings from decreased utilization of transcription and from decreased space requirements. We are excited to continue to be on the cutting edge of medical information technology with the help of MIE." WebChart offers a level of flexibility unmatched in the industry. WebChart’s level of interoperability allows IG&H to stay with their existing practice management system, leveraging that investment, and receive results electronically.

January 2006

WebChart Interoperates at IHE North American Connectathon

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) is an initiative by health care professionals and industry to improve the way computer systems in health care share information. IHE provides a detailed implementation and testing process to promote the adoption of standards based interoperability by suppliers and users of health care information systems. The Connectathon, a weeklong interoperability-testing event, invites suppliers to connect their systems and communicate effectively in a simulated real-world environment. Medical Informatics Engineering participated at this year's event in preparation for interoperability events at HIMSS and ACC, successfully exchanging medical information with complementary systems from other suppliers. MIEs WebChart EMR performed required transactions in support of defined clinical use cases defined by IHE.

December 2005

MIE joins HIMSS RHIO Federation

Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) has joined the HIMSS RHIO federation, an industry organization created by HIMSS to foster the growth of the RHIO/HIE industry through education, outreach and advocacy activities at the local, state and federal level. The HIMSS RHIO federation has three focus areas - business rules (processes for RHIO business conduct), harmonization (establishing accepted methods to standardize business and technical aspects of operation) and chain of trust (establishment of trust relationships between stakeholders in a RHIO). MIE brings well-established RHIO expertise to the organization, based upon experience with its Med-Web RHIO. The Med-Web is one of the oldest and most successful RHIOs, with more than 90 percent of physicians in its Northeast Indiana service area using its robust infrastructure.

December 2005

Indiana Internal Medicine Consultants says yes to WebChart

A full implementation of WebChart has begun for Indiana Internal Medicine Consultants of Indianapolis. The 23-provider practice will take advantage of WebChart’s high-speed scanning capabilities to phase out paper charts while automatically importing clinical reports from area hospitals via the Indiana Health Information Exchange. The staff of more than 70 is also looking forward to using the point-of-care charting, integrated dictation/transcription, and tasking features.

Testimonials from satisfied WebChart users prompted IIMC to make the choice, says Chanda Beckner, practice administrator, not to mention WebChart’s flexibility in allowing providers to chart patient encounters using whatever method of data entry they prefer. The practice is planning a move to a new facility late in 2006, and going digital will spare the organization from having to allocate square footage for chart storage.  

November 2005

Physicians lend an ear to Bluffton Listen Line

The Listen Line is up and running at Bluffton Regional Medical Center. As of November 1, physicians in the Lutheran Health Network who have privileges at this Bluffton, Indiana, hospital have been able to use a dedicated phone line to access dictated patient records. Physicians call the Listen Line, enter an assigned PIN number, and listen to voice files that have not yet been transcribed. The files, which are stored on a server by MIE, are accessible for two weeks before being deleted. Bluffton Regional joins 15 other MIE clients that currently have the capability to listen in on dictation files using a dedicated line. “Working with MIE was great,” says Linda Reed, vice president of Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Bluffton Regional. “They were very helpful and as eager as we were to make sure that the physicians have easy access to imaging reports immediately upon dictation.” 

November 2005

Fort Wayne Medical Education Program goes ‘chartless’

It’s official: the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program’s Family Practice Center now stores patient records only in a digital format. Dee Elbrecht, R.N., reports that staff members of the Fort Wayne, Indiana, practice have finished the scanning of medical charts, a process they were able to complete in a year and a half without having to hire additional medical-records personnel. “Working with MIE has been a positive experience,” she says. “We were faced with the daunting task of scanning more than 10,000 paper charts, as well as indexing them. We had former file clerks indexing the charts from home using WebChart. We have excellent support from MIE, which has led to a successful implementation for our 34-physician residency program. I am proud of our accomplishments, and how well we have adapted to a new chartless office.”

October 2005

Cameron Hospital enhances its WebChart with dictation/transcription capability

Cameron Memorial Community Hospital (CMCH), a critical-care facility in Angola, Indiana, is applying MIE’s dictation/transcription/eSign/workflow software throughout its organization and reaping the benefits. Already an MIE WebChart PACS client, CMCH set out to explore the possibilities of the dictation/transcription solution for its radiology department. Once Sandy Brady, director of medical records, learned about the module’s scalability and reliability, she decided to invest in an enterprise-wide implementation, which has resulted in significant productivity improvements.

October 2005

The Imaging Center looks at ‘big picture’ with implementation of full PACS package

The Imaging Center of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has chosen MIE and its comprehensive WebChart RIS/PACS solution, including patient scheduling/registration, dictation, transcription, eSign, and full workflow (including modality worklist). What tipped the center’s decision in favor of WebChart PACS? Chris Conner, The Imaging Center’s IT manager, says it was the “broker-less” integration of all RIS/PACS functionality, MIE’s flexible financial terms, and the solid platform for future growth.

October 2005

Women's Health Advantage to expand WebChart implementation with DICOM imaging

Women’s Health Advantage (WHA) has elected to continue enhancing its technological capabilities with MIE products. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, practice is adding MIE’s DICOM solution to its already-implemented WebChart EMR. With the addition of the digital-imaging module, WHA will be able to view ultrasound exams inside the patient’s chart from any browser-enabled computer. This capability will allow many points of access to images, making obsolete the previous method of printing images on thermal paper, storing them, and then having to pull them to be read one at a time. Recognizing WebChart’s ability to grow and deliver additional functionality as the practice grows, Women’s Health Advantage has also engaged MIE to create custom solutions for OB/GYN reporting, further leveraging WHA’s investment.

August 2005

MIE forms alliance with Infortrend

http://www.infortrend.com/News/20050801/ift_e_MIE.htm

June 2005

MIE receives TechPoint MIRA Award

Fort Wayne, Ind. – In May, Medical Informatics Engineering added another to its growing list of accolades when it received a 2005 TechPoint MIRA Award.

MIRA Awards are given annually by TechPoint, Indiana’s largest technology membership organization, to bring attention to companies driving technological change that contributes to the economic vitality of the state. The awards honor companies in seven categories: Advanced Manufacturing, Information Technology, Health & Life Science, Distribution/Logistics, Professional Service Provider, Educational Contribution to Technology, and Gazelle Company (innovative business approach).

The field of 51 nominees in the seven categories included companies and organizations of all sizes, as well as departments or programs at several of the state’s largest universities. MIE was a finalist in the Health & Life Science category.

Vice President of Business Development Peter Norder accepted the award for MIE at the elegant black-tie gala that drew over 600 business leaders and Indianapolis-area personalities to the Indiana Roof Ballroom on May 13. “It’s a remarkable experience to be part of this event,” Norder says. “This gathering brings together an incredible group of people and organizations whose talent, innovative ideas, and determination are accomplishing great things for the state, and MIE is really honored to take its place among them.”

Norder took back to MIE’s Fort Wayne, Indiana, headquarters a 12-inch-tall, etched glass trophy in the shape of a diamond on point. Even better than the attractive award, though, is the acclaim of peers in the technology field, says Norder. “It’s very rewarding to have this group acknowledge our leading role in linking physicians and hospitals throughout the region and our success in facilitating improved healthcare. We’re really proud of the partnerships we’ve built during our 10 years, as well as the efficiencies we’ve helped our clients achieve. And the horizons of our work just keep expanding.”

BKD CPAs & Advisors was the presenting sponsor for the gala. Other sponsors included the Scott A. Jones Foundation, Indiana University, RoadRunner Business Class, Barnes & Thornburg LLP, the Indianapolis Business Journal, Purdue University, and numerous central Indiana firms.

April 2005

Indianapolis centers look forward to efficiencies with WebChart

The Endoscopy Center and Mooresville Endoscopy Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, have implemented WebChart as their EHR of choice. Both surgical centers are eliminating their paper charts using WebChart’s advanced document management features, and are printing bar-coded forms pre-populated with patient demographic information. Staff members appreciate WebChart’s Check-in module, which allows them to track patient flow within the practice; and also the Tasking module, which enables them to electronically send tasks within the practice while documenting that work.

Mooresville Endoscopy Center completed the scanning of all of its charts within the first month of "going live."

April 2005

Fort Wayne Psychiatry simplifies patient check-in with WebChart modules

Fort Wayne Psychiatry has converted from its existing practice-management scheduling system to WebChart Scheduler. The implementation and training was seamless, allowing for the practice to implement WebChart’s Check-in module simultaneously.

Staff members now check patients in from the electronic schedule, which notifies care providers that the patient has arrived for his or her appointment. Further, the staff praises the one-click ease of confirming appointments directly from the schedule.

Fort Wayne Psychiatry’s three providers specialize in psychiatric care and medication management.

April 2005

Meridian Health Group pushes digital images using WebChart

Meridian Health Group in Indianapolis, Indiana, has implemented DICOM-push capabilities using its WebChart EHR to send digital radiography images to Fort Wayne Radiology in Fort Wayne, Indiana, for interpretation. Fort Wayne Radiology reads the images and returns electronic reports for each patient directly to Meridian Health’s EHR.

April 2005

Thomsen updates practice with WebChart

Dr. Stephen Thomsen of Union City, New Jersey, has partnered with MIE to implement WebChart. Dr. Thomsen chose WebChart because of the unprecedented level of flexibility it can provide his practice as he makes the transition from an analog workflow to a much more efficient electronic workflow.

March 2005

Minnesota’s DRI purchases WebChart PACS

Diagnostic Radiologic Imaging (DRI) of Worthington, Minnesota, has begun its implementation of MIE’s WebChart PACS. MIE partnered with Z&Z Medical, Inc., and Z&Z imaging consultant Keith Paulus spearheaded the consultation and sales process. The deciding factors to purchase MIE’s WebChart PACS included its comprehensive turnkey design, superior workflow models, ability to support DRI’s model of serving multiple clients from a central location, and industry-leading affordability.

March 2005

Meridian opts for more of a good thing, adds WebChart Scheduler

Meridian Health Group in Indianapolis, Indiana, has implemented WebChart Scheduler, adding to the suite of WebChart modules it already uses.

Further, Meridian Health Group has added DICOM push capabilities to its WebChart EHR to send digital radiographic images to Fort Wayne Radiology for interpretation. Radiologists at Fort Wayne Radiology are then able to dictate their impression into their own WebChart EHR, from which it is transcribed, e-signed, and then electronically sent back to Meridian Health’s WebChart solution.

February 2005

Paulding County Hospital implements WebChart PACS

Paulding County Hospital in Paulding, Ohio, has implemented MIE’s WebChart PACS to support its teleradiology and in-house radiology needs. WebChart was initially chosen for its superior flexibility, ability to allow referring and ordering physicians to review reports and images, and ability to address the workflow issues of the radiology and medical-records departments.

Paulding County Hospital and its radiology partner, Fort Wayne Radiology, are located in different states—and different time zones—making timely and secure transmission of information a critical component to be provided by the proposed solution. In addition, the hospital sought to eliminate specific workflow inefficiencies while obtaining the infrastructure to support an expansion of its radiology modalities.

"We made use of MIE’s WebChart technologies in the past via some of our business associates," said Randy Ruge, chief operating officer for Paulding County Hospital. "But as we continued to expand our capabilities with newer and better imaging technologies, it became apparent that the time for PACS was now. MIE delivered a custom solution that was tens of thousands of dollars less than its nearest competitor."

February 2005

The Endoscopy Center selects WebChart EMR

The Endoscopy Center has entered into an agreement with MIE to implement WebChart as its EMR solution of choice. TEC is a multi-room surgical facility on the southeast side of Indianapolis, Indiana; the practice is owned by a partnership of 12 local physicians.

January 2005

Northeast OB-Gyn chooses WebChart

Northeast OB-Gyn has elected to implement MIE’s WebChart as the practice’s EMR solution. Northeast OB-GYN, is a Fort Wayne, Indiana medical practice with six physicians.

December 2004

Mooresville Endoscopy Center joins ranks of WebChart users

Mooresville Endoscopy Center of Indianapolis, Indiana, has committed to implement WebChart as its preferred EHR solution. Beginning with MIE’s scanning applications, Mooresville Endoscopy will implement chartless workflow in the coming months.

December 2004

Adams Memorial Hospital of Decatur, Indiana, implements WebChart Document Management Solutions

Adams Memorial Hospital (AMH) in Decatur, Indiana, is partnering with MIE to implement WebChart’s document-management solutions. Over the next 18 months, AMH and MIE will be conducting workflow analysis throughout the hospital system in order to transition AMH from its paper-based workflow to an efficient electronic workflow.

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Good things come in threes: MIE named Growth 100 Company for third consecutive year

Fort Wayne, Indiana – Fort Wayne-based MIE (Medical Informatics Engineering) achieved an unusual distinction when it was honored October 27 for being among the elite of Indiana’s rapid-growth, high-potential entrepreneurial companies–three years running.

This is the third consecutive year MIE has been named a Growth 100 Company by the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. MIE co-founder and President Douglas Horner, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Eric Jones, and Vice President Peter Norder accepted the award from Johnson Center Interim Director Tom Hustad during a dinner gala held at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis.

"It’s quite an honor to receive this recognition three years in a row," said Norder. "Good things really do come in threes, and this award is the result of three crucial elements in our business: the hard work of our employees, the phenomenal partnerships we have with our clients, and the receptivity of healthcare providers to our software solutions. We continue to be focused on the evolution of these solutions, and we’re proud of their impact on the delivery of patient care."

Hustad said of MIE and the other Growth 100 honorees: "We recognize these companies because they represent the entrepreneurial spirit of Indiana business, working to enlarge the state’s role in the national and global corporate arena."

Founded in Fort Wayne in 1995, MIE employs 32 at its West Jefferson Boulevard headquarters. The company created the Med-Web, a private telecommunications network dedicated to the secure transmission of health information and medical-practice data. Well over 85 percent of area physicians subscribe. MIE also created WebChart, a suite of browser-based software solutions for digital-document management in medical practices. WebChart allows secure, remote access of patient information over the Med-Web or the Internet, thus enabling clinicians to work with patient medical records at home, office, or hospital.

"MIE has continued to flesh out its vision for cooperative information sharing to the benefit of medical practices and their patients," said Horner. "Last year, we established WebChart digital medical-record systems at Matthew 25 Health and Dental Clinic, in part to help support the care of our area’s indigent population."

"This year," added Jones, "we’ve responded to radiologists’ desire for filmless handling of radiographic imaging–X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and the like—by making our PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System) software available as a freestanding product. We’re staying true to our vision and continuing to innovate."

This is the 11th year for the Growth 100 Award, created by the Johnson Center to honor Indiana’s fastest-growing (15 percent or higher increase in revenue over a two-year period) privately held companies with annual sales of at least $500,000. Eighty-eight companies made this year’s list.

"This year’s Growth 100 awardees have a combined 2003 sales total of more than $1.17 billion, with an incredible growth rate averaging 58 percent," said the Johnson Center’s Hustad. "To be able to build this type of momentum in such a challenging economic climate is quite a feat."

"These companies are vital contributors to the state," he added. "Combined, they employ more than 8,600 Indiana residents, and have increased their employment numbers by an average of 33 percent in the last three years. With the state experiencing an overwhelming loss of jobs through an equivalent period, this is quite remarkable."

The 2004 Growth 100 Awards program was sponsored in part by Indiana Venture Center; Katz, Sapper, and Miller; and the accounting firm of Ernst & Young.

For more information about the awards program, visit www.kelley.indiana.edu/jcei.

August 2004

WebChart goes live at Hope Cancer Center

MIE is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its implementation of WebChart for Hope Cancer Center, located in Terre Haute, Indiana.

January 3, 2003

MIE Salutes its Clients

At Fort Wayne Country Club on January 3, guests at MIE’s winter reception found plenty to warm their hearts and stomachs as they dined on an array of hors d’oeuvres and enjoyed jazz by the James Baker Trio. Greeted by MIE officers Doug Horner, Eric Jones, and Peter Norder, they also had the opportunity to meet and mingle with other MIE staff, supporters, and clients. According to Jones, "The evening was all about saying thank you to all the people whose trust, ideas, hard work, and partnership have helped MIE progress so quickly in realizing our goal of streamlining the medical-information-exchange environment. Our clients are a great group of people, and we value their business and friendship tremendously."

Click here to view scenes from MIE’s winter reception.

Thursday, November 14, 2002

Mayor Presents Innovation Award to MIE

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Mayor Graham Richard today presented the Mayor’s Innovation Award to Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) for its development of a secure medical intranet and medical record management software.

"MIE is a great example of a small business succeeding in the new, high tech economy," said Mayor Richard. "By leveraging our community’s strengths in information technology and health care, MIE is defining what it means to be innovative."

MIE created MedWeb, a private telecommunications network dedicated to the secure transmission of health information. The intranet connects 80% of Northeast Indiana’s physicians and hospitals, allowing users real-time communication and data transfer. The Fort Wayne-based company also developed WebChart, a suite of browser-based software solutions for medical record management. The program allows for remote access of patient information over MedWeb, enabling doctors to retrieve patient medical records remotely and securely.

"MIE is on the cutting-edge of data management for medical providers. The company’s products are a huge benefits to hospitals, doctors and patients and will result in improved medical care for all of us," said Mayor Richard.

Founded in Fort Wayne in 1995, MIE employs 28 at its West Jefferson Boulevard headquarters. The company recently was named a Growth 100 company by Indiana University for its rapid growth and high potential.

Sponsored by the City of Fort Wayne and the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center, Mayor Richard’s Innovation Awards recognize businesses that create or improve products using innovative research, development or engineering. To qualify for the award, companies must conduct the majority of their product development in Northeast Indiana.

Mayor Richard and the Department of Economic Development choose Innovation Award recipients through a nomination process. Nominations should describe the company and product, what makes the product innovative, the role Northeast Indiana business and technology played in the product’s development and how the product will positively impact individuals or businesses.

Click here to view scenes from the Mayor’s visit.

Friday, October 25, 2002

MIE Named Growth 100 Company

Fort Wayne, Ind. – Fort Wayne-founded and -based MIE (Medical Informatics Engineering) was honored Thursday, October 24, for being among the elite of Indiana’s rapid-growth, high-potential entrepreneurial companies.

MIE co-founder and President Douglas Horner, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Eric Jones, and Vice President Peter Norder accepted the award from the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business during a luncheon in Carmel.

"I’m very proud of MIE," said Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard, who nominated the company for the award. "It shows what a great technology community we have and how Fort Wayne is a great place to grow technology businesses."

MIE, founded in 1995, employs 28 at its West Jefferson Boulevard headquarters. MIE created and is currently expanding the MedWeb, a private telecommunications network dedicated to the secure transmission of health information and medical-practice data. Well over 80 percent of area physicians subscribe. MIE also created WebChart, a suite of browser-based software solutions for medical-record and digital-document management in medical practices. WebChart allows for remote access of patient information over the MedWeb, thus enabling doctors to access patient medical records remotely and securely, from hospital or home.

"We’ve redefined how physicians and hospitals keep and share medical information, and thus helped transform how many area doctors practice medicine," says Horner. "We’re very proud of the role we’ve played in putting the latest medical-records technology to work in medical practices and hospitals."

"Having good information readily available makes physicians’ work more fruitful, and that means only good things for their patients," says Jones.

The Growth 100 Award honors Indiana’s fastest-growing privately held companies with annual sales of at least $1 million.

"Although the economy across the state and nation has not been strong, this year’s Growth 100 awardees have average annual sales of $16 million and a growth rate averaging 45 percent," said Elizabeth J. Gatewood, director of the Johnson Center. "These entrepreneurial companies have a strong impact on the state through employment and community development."

This year’s Growth 100 Awards program was sponsored in part by corporate partners Ernst & Young, McDonald Investments, National City Bank, and Richey, Mills & Associates.

For more information about the awards program, visit www.kelley.indiana.edu/jcei.