Oklahoma Health Information Exchange FAQ’s for Hospitals

Electronic health information exchange (HIE) allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health care providers and patients to appropriately access, through a secure connection, a patient’s vital medical information electronically, improving the speed, quality, safety and cost of patient care. HIE provides the capability to electronically collect, store, and share clinical information among disparate health care information systems while maintaining its privacy and security.

Telehealth policy changes after the COVID-19 public health emergency

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services took a range of administrative steps to expedite the adoption and awareness of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these telehealth flexibilities have been made permanent while others are temporary.

Full text of the changes are here: Telehealth.HSS.gov

BREAKING NEWS: POLICY UPDATE FOR OKLAHOMA

This update impacts physical therapists in Oklahoma. There is a new section of regulation specific for physical therapists’ telehealth services.

Key points for the provider community to know:

• PTs can receive referrals from APRNs (not limited to telehealth)
• Services must be synchronous
• The therapist determines if in-person evaluation is necessary in lieu of telehealth
• Documentation should indicate the visit was via telehealth
• “Audio and video equipment” must allow for interactive, real-time communication which permit the patient and therapist to “see and hear each other”.
• A physical therapist may use telehealth methods for routine and general supervision of Form 5-registered supervisees.
• Regulations incorporate Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards, academic program rules, and practice setting policies regarding the use of telehealth service delivery as well as follow all applicable supervision rules
• Failure to comply with regulations for telehealth is unprofessional conduct

Full text of the changes are here: 12-28-98 (okmedicalboard.org)

The Heartland Telehealth Resource Center (HTRC) and Missouri Telehealth Network (MTN) are offering a Telemedicine ECHO for providers in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. The ECHO will be held the second Tuesday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. Sessions will offer a brief didactic opening, followed by a question-and-answer period that will address such topics as reimbursement, operations, regulations, best practices and more. Click here to download the ECHO flyer. Click below to register.