AMA Adopts Health IT-Related Policies at Annual Meeting

On Monday, the American Medical Association adopted several health IT-related policies at its annual meeting.

Electronic Health Record Training Policy

During the meeting, AMA adopted a policy to provide medical students with “hands-on” experience and training for electronic health records, Health Data Management reports.

According to Health Data Management, the new policy suggests that medical students learn, under close supervision, how to use EHRs to:

• Document patient encounters; and
• Enter clinical orders (Slabodkin, Health Data Management, 6/9).

AMA said it will work with accrediting programs to support such efforts among medical schools, as well as at residency and fellowship training programs (Walsh, Clinical Innovation & Technology, 6/8).

According to Clinical Innovation & Technology, AMA aims to develop a plan for a software system that could facilitate EHR training among medical schools and teaching hospitals.

In a statement, Jesse Ehrenfeld, an AMA board member, said, “There is a clear need for medical students today to have access to and learn how to properly use [EHRs] well before they enter practice” (Clinical Innovation & Technology, 6/8).

ICD-10 Policy

AMA also adopted a policy that calls for a two-year transition period for ICD-10, Politico‘s “Morning eHealth” reports.

U.S. health care organizations are working to transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 code sets to accommodate codes for new diseases and procedures by Oct. 1.

Under the policy, CMS would not withhold payments for coding mistakes made during the transition period (Pittman/Tahir, “Morning eHealth,” Politico, 6/9).

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Policy

In addition, AMA adopted a policy to bolster states’ use of prescription drug monitoring programs.

The policy encourages states to implement PDMPs that:

• Include relevant and reliable data;
• Offer actionable information;
• Protect patient privacy; and
• Smoothly integrate into an organization’s workflow.

The policy also urges to states to fully fund their PDMPs, as well as modernize such systems to allow for data to be shared across state lines.

Patrice Harris, AMA Board Secretary, said, “Interoperable PDMPs are important tools that can help physicians weigh the risks and benefits of prescribing opioids to a patient experiencing pain and are a key part of preventing misuse and diversion” (AMA release, 6/8).

Web-based Initiative to Improve Professional Satisfaction

Meanwhile, AMA announced that it has launched a Web-based platform to improve professional satisfaction among physicians and reduce burnout rates, MedPage Today reports.

The program, called AMA STEPS Forward, offers 16 interactive modules at no cost that aim to help physicians “work smarter, not harder,” according to MedPage Today. The website includes programs for topics, such as:

• Encouraging medication adherence;
• Implementing EHRs; and
• Pre-visit planning (Moore, MedPage Today, 6/8).

AMA plans to have more than 25 modules by the end of the year, including one for revenue cycle management (Goedert, Health Data Management, 6/9).

Ethical Guidelines for Telehealth Use

Meanwhile, AMA ethical guidelines for the use of telehealth failed to gain the approval of the full House of Delegates, MedPage Today reports (Wickline Wallan, MedPage Today, 6/8).

The recommendations, crafted by AMA’s Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, sought to address how physicians who use telehealth:

• Ensure privacy;
• Educate patients on the limitations of telehealth;
• Encourage patients to inform their primary care physicians about all telehealth services they have received; and
• Teach patients how to schedule follow-up care (Ross Johnson, Modern Healthcare, 6/6).

Ronald Clearfield, a member of the CEJA, said, “This report recommends physicians providing clinical services through telemedicine must uphold the standards of professionalism as expected in in-person examinations, and recognize the limitations of the relevant technologies.”

Although most of those who spoke at the meeting supported the report, some delegates — including Arlo Weltge, an alternate delegate from Texas — were opposed due to the legal case against the Texas Medical Board’s telemedicine proposal.

The recommendations were referred back to the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs for further consideration (MedPage Today, 6/8).

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