A physician in Ocala, Fla., has proposed the creation a regional health information organization, which could improve efficiency and care quality while reducing costs, the Ocala Star-Banner reports.
Dr. Mel Seek, a critical care and kidney specialist, said a RHIO would work well in Ocala because it is the size of Rhode Island, a quarter of the population is age 65 or older and the community is civicly engaged, according to the Star-Banner. Florida communities such as Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa have established networks, but they are not complete.
"The choices we have now to talk to other doctors is to call, page, fax or mail information, and they are all clunky," Seek said. Cost is a major concern, so Seek said "we have to convince the physicians that they will eventually get a return for their investment."
Seek said he hopes the RHIO would include larger medical entities such as local hospitals, labs and radiology centers (Sowti, Ocala Star-Banner, 10/12).