OCHIN Offers Data Aggregation System

OCHIN, an Oregon-based nonprofit health IT services organization, has launched a real-time data aggregation system that it says allows healthcare organizations to enhance care delivery and improve business operations.

Called Acuere, the system incorporates clinical, claims and social determinant information on more than 10 million patients. More real-time data – and better analysis of that data – allows users to set benchmarks and make better-informed clinical and operational decisions, according to OCHIN. Acuere's web-based platform integrates with existing electronic health records, claims and other information systems. It offers users customizable dashboards and other tools.

With an emphasis on safety net clinics and small practices as well as critical access and rural hospitals, OCHIN serves more than 170 organizations in 18 states.

In a press release, executives from two pilot sites talked about their experience with Acuere. “Through the use of Acuere, two of our satellite clinics have achieved better blood pressure control than our organization as a whole: Detroit Shoreway is at 84 percent and The Centers Rocky River is at 90 percent, while our community health centers are at 77 percent overall,” said Marianella Napolitano, vice president of performance improvement at Cleveland-based Neighborhood Family Practice. “Being able to share the data at the provider, site and organization level creates an environment of healthy competition resulting in better documentation practices and sharing of ideas to improve performance.”

“Our clinic has used Acuere for several years to support our medical home transformation and clinical quality improvement efforts," said Erin Kirk, clinic quality manager at Portland-based OHSU Family Medicine at Richmond Clinic. “Acuere easily identifies patients with gaps in their care and monitors performance at the primary care physician and care team level. It helps us track performance over time and make sustainable, incremental improvements for positive impacts on the health of our population and our bottom line.”