AMA dr2dr Secure Messaging Presentation to PCN Physician Leads
January 30, 2016
Michael McDermott, Project Manager, Secure Messaging, Alberta Medical Association Brandon Blanck, Vice President, Microquest
GOALS FOR PRESENTATION
You have a clear understanding of: • The rationale for the AMA dr2dr Secure Messaging system • Benefits to patients and providers • Expected use of the system • How privacy and security are being managed • The long term vision for secure messaging • How the AMA dr2dr Secure Messaging system works • Where we are on development and rollout • How your PCNs and physicians can become more involved
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FACULTY/PRESENTER DISCLOSURE
Presenter: • Michael McDermott, Project Manager, Secure Messaging,
Alberta Medical Association
• Relationships with commercial interests: • Contracted to the AMA
Presenter:
• Brandon Blanck, Vice President, Microquest Inc.
• Relationships with commercial interests: • Co-owner and shareholder of the company
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DISCLOSURE OF COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
• This program has received financial support from the AMA and Microquest in the form of capital and operating funding.
• Potential for conflict(s) of interest:
• Michael McDermott and Brandon Blanck are paid by the AMA and Microquest, whose joint product, AMA dr2dr Secure Messaging, is being discussed in this program
• Microquest and the AMA benefit from the sale of AMA dr2dr Secure Messaging
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MITIGATING POTENTIAL BIAS
• We tend to be biased about AMA dr2dr secure messaging and its many benefits, but promise not to try to sell you any pharmaceuticals
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WHAT IS SECURE MESSAGING?
Simply put, secure messaging (SM) is a solution that enables the exchange of information in a secure fashion
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It is a web-based secure server approach to protect sensitive data that is sent beyond corporate / clinic / office borders and provides compliance with industry regulations, such as HIA, FOIP, PIPEDA, PIPA, etc.
WHY DO WE NEED SECURE MESSAGING?
Physicians are limited in their ability to electronically communicate patient information with each other in a secure fashion OIPC, CPSA and Alberta Health have voiced significant
concerns over insecure e-communication between providers via facsimile and text messaging
Need to address continuity of care gaps, including those identified in the HQCA report of Dec 19, 2013
Desire to facilitate new modes of coordinated care, enabled by e-communication that is compliant with current privacy legislation and standard of care expectations
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ARE SECURE MESSAGING AND SECURE E-MAIL THE SAME THING?
No, secure messaging is not the same as secure e-mail
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Secure messaging has several important advantages: • No data resides outside of the central server so there is no ability to hack
into the information during transport • Confidential and authenticated exchanges can be started immediately.
There is no need to install special software or security access devices (e.g. key fobs or fingerprint readers)
• It provides a high degree of ‘non-repudiation’, which is proof of the integrity and origin of data as well as highly assured authentication of the identity of the user
WHY IS THE AMA INVOLVED?
Need for a simple tool for all physicians to use that complies with required privacy / security practices
Driven by motion passed at the Spring 2014 Representatives Forum confirming the value of the AMA engaging in this venture
Belief that a secure messaging solution will deliver unique value for physicians and their patients
Alignment with AMA business plan goals: • Physicians are supported by an integrated health
information system • Physicians have solutions for secure exchange of
health information to support improved access and quality of care
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WHAT ARE THE GOALS FOR SECURE MESSAGING?
To provide secure, seamless, timely sharing of medical information between health care providers
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To reduce wait times for access to specialists and requests for consultation
To maximize the coordination and continuity of care for Albertans
WHAT IS THE AMA’s SECURE MESSAGING SOLUTION?
The AMA’s secure messaging solution builds on the dr2dr application developed by Microquest (MQ)
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• AMA is working in partnership with MQ to jointly guide updates and improvements to the application to ensure the initial product adds the most value to Alberta physicians
• The long term plan is to include other providers (e.g., pharmacists, NPs) and ultimately patients in the secure messaging solution
HOW WAS THE VENDOR SELECTED?
Microquest was selected using a rigorous process
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• The AMA developed and released a Request for Information (RFI) and received 21 responses from vendors
• All responses were reviewed carefully by a physician Working Group using previously established evaluation criteria
• A select few were invited to present their solution to the Working Group with the preferred vendor chosen from this short-list
• The decision to select Microquest’s dr2dr solution was unanimous
WHY SHOULD I USE IT? Protects the physician from privacy risks associated with
the exchange of the patient’s private medical information
Eliminates telephone tag and disrupted workflow that can occur during follow-up
Provides a central secure mode of electronic communication for physicians and their staff for use in their professional activities
Facilitates management of opinions around the coordination of patient care
Provides a material record of referral communications
Improves collaboration between physicians, and reduces “off the record” patient care communication
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Protects P
rivacy
Improved W
orkflow
Secure
Reduces Risk
Collaboration
Useful Address Book
WHY ELSE SHOULD I USE IT?
Provides the basis for a common directory of physicians, including their location, services provided, referral information and clinic contacts
No spam. The secure messaging system is designed to provide a single secure “professional account” for physicians and staff
Costs will be offset by the ability for referring and referred-to physicians to submit the new e-consult fee codes
Shrinks clinic overhead associated with managing faxing and faxing costs
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No Spam Coordinated Care
Reduced Faxing No telephone tag
New e-Codes
Secure
Teamwork
HOW WILL IT BE USED?
Secure messaging can be used for many clinical purposes, but there are three primary functions
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1. Rapid exchange of clinical information
2. Requesting clinical advice quickly and efficiently
3. Facilitating electronic consultation and referral
Axe the fax! (and phone)
HOW WILL IT BE USED?
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Post-op care is going well, but there’s some redness around his chest tube. Here’s a picture, is this something I need to be concerned about?
Nothing to worry about, this is normal but let me know if it worsens.
She has an appointment with you in a month, but her blood sugars are completely unstable. Suggested action?
Given her other complications let’s get her in right away. James will coordinate.
Do you have an updated medication list for him?
Yes, here you go.
I received the referral request and have a few follow-up questions…
Answers are as follows…
WHAT ABOUT PRIVACY AND SECURITY?
Protecting privacy and safeguarding clinical information is a cornerstone of the AMA solution and one of the highest priorities
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System security will be verified through a third-party security audit
Physicians and other users will be authenticated during the onboarding process
Logging into the application will require two-factor authentication (Google Authenticator, SMS code, etc.)
Other than the message generator and authorized receiver(s), no one has access to the messages
Audit details are available, which means that all users and occasions for use will be logged by date and time
DOES THE SOLUTION INTEGRATE WITH EMRs?
If you have a Healthquest EMR from Microquest, the solution is integrated. Other EMRs, not at the moment.
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In the short-term, a proprietary Application Program Interface (API) is available to integrate with other EMRs, should the vendors agree
In the long-term, the AMA is working on a standards-based strategy to federate secure messaging solutions across the different vendors
WHAT IS THE AMA’s LONG-TERM VISION FOR SECURE MESSAGING?
Our Vision: Ubiquitous, distributed, standardized, vendor-agnostic secure messaging across the entire health system in Alberta
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Requires: Professions, vendors and government working together to define standards and put services in place that will move messages securely between different systems
WHAT DOES THAT LONG-TERM VISION LOOK LIKE?
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Jointly Sponsored Secure Message
Broker Service
SOFTWARE DEMONSTRATION
WHAT IS THIS GOING TO COST? Subscription-based model
• Monthly or yearly subscription • Charged to credit card
All-inclusive, per-physician price
• $34.99 per month (that’s less than a Globe and Mail subscription)
Includes
• Unlimited staff accounts * • Unlimited messaging • Unlimited access • Unlimited upgrades
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* For clinic or office staff employed by the physician (excludes staff employed by a PCN, AHS or faculty of medicine).
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTING SECURE MESSAGING?
The timeline is as follows:
Dec 2015 – Mar 2016 • Service development and pilots
Apr 2016 – Jun 2016 • Limited production rollout (LPR)
Jul 4, 2016 • Full provincial rollout of the AMA dr2dr solution • 3 month free trial period • AMA assistance with PIA amendment
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WHERE IS THE AMA AT RIGHT NOW?
The project is moving forward quickly. Good progress is being made on all fronts. Lots of interest from physicians and other stakeholders The PIA framework is complete and will be submitted shortly.
There is strong support from the OIPC for secure messaging. Physician Engagement Committee members have provided
feedback to Microquest. Improvements are now complete. The AMA and Microquest are actively looking for pilot
opportunities which can lead into the Limited Production Rollout (LPR).
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HOW CAN PCNs GET INVOLVED?
Help us get the word out • Communicate to your clinics – it’s time to Axe the fax!
Schedule time to get more information • We would be happy to provide a follow-on WebEx demo
Participate in a pilot • We are actively looking for forward-thinking PCNs and physicians to
help trial the AMA dr2dr Secure Messaging system
Consider joining the limited production rollout Sign up for our newsletter: [email protected]
Support secure messaging • Plan to adopt the AMA dr2dr Secure Messaging system in July
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QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU
Contact us: [email protected] or [email protected] Or send an email to: secure.messaging @albertadoctors.org
