CAST strives to keep on top of issues that are important to long-term and post-acute care and support providers and their needs. We are highly interested in hearing your feedback about our initiatives, efforts and tools. That’s how we make sure that CAST is on the right track and that we’re providing you with the support and resources you need to succeed in our rapidly changing care delivery environment.
This month, we’re asking for your feedback in 2 important areas.
First, we’d like to know how you’re preparing to comply with the new federal ePrescribing standard that will become effective on Nov. 1.
Second, we’d like to hear your assessment of the recent updates that we've made to 2 technology selection portfolios, and what we should work on next.
New ePrescribing Standards
New ePrescribing standards will become effective on Nov. 1 for long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers. I would like to call your special attention to our article about these changes. It outlines how the standards will change and what you must do to comply.
Here’s the change in a nutshell:
As of Nov. 1, 2014, LTPAC providers that send prescriptions or medication orders electronically to a pharmacy must use the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) SCRIPT standard, namely “NCPDP SCRIPT 10.6” or higher, if the receiving pharmacy is a separate legal entity from the LTPAC organization and if the prescriptions are eligible for reimbursement under Medicare Part D.
Our article gives you more details about this change and links you to a number of helpful resources. I urge you to read the article so you can begin preparing for the upcoming change and remain in compliance after Nov 1.
I also urge you to take a 5-minute survey to help CAST gauge your and your vendor’s technical readiness to meet the Nov. 1 deadline. The survey will also help us assess existing plans to ensure continued compliance, identify any concerns you may have, and solicit suggestions for actions that would alleviate those concerns, if any.
Portfolio Updates
Over the past few months, CAST has updated 2 important tools to help LTPAC providers adopt and implement technology. Our 2014 EHR Selection Portfolio was released in August. Components of our 2014 Telehealth Selection Portfolio were released in June and July.
I urge you to review both of these portfolios. I believe that both will offer you a wealth of information and important guidance as you think about adopting EHRs and telehealth technologies.
Once you've reviewed the portfolios, it would be a great help to CAST if you could complete the 2014 CAST EHR Initiative Survey and the 2014 CAST Telehealth & RPM Initiative Survey. Your feedback will help us gauge the usefulness of our portfolios and how we can improve them before releasing next year’s update. We’re also looking for ideas about additional areas we should explore in future portfolios.
I thank you in advance for your feedback.
New Technology Topics for the Annual Meeting
There are just a few weeks left before the 2014 LeadingAge Annual Meeting and EXPO kicks off in Nashville on Oct. 19-22, 2014. I hope you have registered—and I look forward to your participation in CAST’s broad offering of educational sessions.
In addition to exploring adoption and implementation of EHRs and telehealth technologies, our educational sessions will delve into some new topics this year, including:
- Medication management technology.
- Robotic technology.
- Assistive technology for dementia care.
- The value of planning for technology.
Check out our article about the Annual Meeting for a quick summary of these and other groundbreaking sessions.
This is your last chance to become an official sponsor of the LeadingAge HackFest, which takes place on Oct. 18-19 in Nashville. During HackFest, teams of university students and others work together for 24 hours to design a technology tool to help improve the lives of older adults and their families.
See our HackFest article or visit the HackFest website to learn more about how you can help us sustain the energy and excitement that we sparked at last year’s HackFest. To learn more about becoming a HackFest sponsor, please contact Margaret Wanca-Daniels.
A New CAST Case Study
We’ve included the latest CAST Case Study in this issue of Tech Time. It describes how Mira Vista Care Center in Washington State engaged CAST Supporter eHealth Data Solutions to implement an Internet-based repository that allows skilled nursing settings and assisted living communities to log problematic events as they occur.
Members in the News
Don’t miss the latest news about the great work that CAST Supporters, Business Associates, University Members and LeadingAge members are doing to advance innovation in the field of aging services technologies.
You’ll be interested in some exciting news about Philips, a LeadingAge Gold Partner with CAST Support. Philips is now offering its Lifeline service as a mobile application that gives older adults low-cost access to Philips’ well-established emergency response system from anywhere without having to wear a pendant.
In addition, check out the latest news from CAST Supporters Healthsense and Independa; CAST Business Associates LG CNS, GrandCare, and CDW Healthcare; CAST University Member Carnegie Mellon University; and LeadingAge Members Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, and Knute Nelson.
One last reminder: It’s not too late to register for the Global Technology Forum that CAST and the International Association of Homes and Services for the Ageing (IAHSA) will hold in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on Sept. 24. Check out all the details and consider joining us for this global look at aging services technologies. I am looking forward to it!
I hope you enjoy these and other articles in this issue of Tech Time. Please contact me with any comments or questions.