DiagnosisONE CDS System Being Used to Analyze Cancer Occurrences in Massachusetts

DiagnosisONE's clinical decision support (CDS) system is being used to analyze cancer occurrences in Massachusetts to help physicians direct appropriate medical attention to patients. Cancer surveillance can draw upon multiple sources of information, including existing diagnoses and procedures, genetic predisposition, environmental and behavioral risk factors, and a patient's screening practices.

Nashua, NH (PRWEB) December 26, 2007 -- DiagnosisONE's clinical decision support (CDS) system is being used to analyze cancer occurrences in Massachusetts to help physicians direct appropriate medical attention to patients. The American Cancer Society estimates that almost 600,000 people will have died of cancer-related causes in the United States in 2007, a number that's second only to heart disease.

DiagnosisONE's CDS system was pilot-tested by Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (HVMA) to perform cancer surveillance based on claims data. This project, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), uses the DiagnosisONE CDS engine to analyze drugs, tests and conditions based on anonymous claims data from patients.

Cancer surveillance tells us where we are in the effort to reduce the cancer burden and helps hospitals and other groups to develop cancer prevention programs.

Cancer surveillance can draw upon multiple sources of information, including existing diagnoses and procedures, genetic predisposition, environmental and behavioral risk factors, and a patient's screening practices.

"BCBSMA's corporate promise is to put our members' health first, and by sponsoring this project, we are demonstrating our commitment to that promise. We are supporting this cutting-edge technology because we believe it will lead to improved patient safety and better health outcomes for cancer patients in Massachusetts," said Steven Fox, Vice President of Provider Network Management of BCBSMA.

BCBSMA searched for patients who are at risk for one of four common cancers -- breast, lung, cervical and colon -- and who may not have received an appropriate follow-up after an initial symptom or "trigger" diagnosis.

Using claims data, the CDS system searched for patients that met certain criteria. For example, a set of criteria was a patient over 35 years of age who presented with blood in the sputum (Hemoptysis). More than 9 months since original diagnosis of Hemoptysis, the patient has not had a PET scan or other similar procedure, and no other cause of bleeding -- such as tuberculosis -- has been identified. The system identifies a potential case of delayed diagnosis of cancer and alerts the quality reviewer at the medical group. Then a detailed chart review is undertaken and necessary follow-up care scheduled for the patient.

"HVMA has a very strong focus on patient safety. The DiagnosisONE pilot system resides outside our current EMR but has the potential to integrate more completely with multiple streams of data. The DiagnosisONE clinical decision support system has the ability to analyze complex patient profiles from both claims and clinical data," said Francis X. Campion, MD, FACP, Director, Complex Chronic Care Program, HVMA. "Cancer surveillance is a very important capability. DiagnosisONE's system offers the opportunity to work with both claims and clinical data to provide a sensitive and specific solution for case identification."

"DiagnosisONE is proud to partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts to provide this unique service that will help physicians," said Mansoor Khan, CEO of DiagnosisONE. "Cancer surveillance tells us where we are in the effort to reduce the cancer burden and helps hospitals and other groups to develop cancer prevention programs."

About DiagnosisONE:
DiagnosisONE, an innovative leader in the healthcare IT industry, develops and markets Intelligent Connectivity Solutions. Those solutions allow customers in the clinical and public health environments to collect data from disparate sources, apply clinical and bioterrorism rules to those data, and deliver the resulting information to care providers and decision-makers. DiagnosisONE's customers include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, numerous state departments of health, integrated delivery networks, health plans and health systems. For more information, visit the Web site, www.diagnosisone.com.

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cancer healthcare clinical decision support cancer surveillance cancer prevention medical patient safety

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