This network uses a secure, cloud-based hub-and-spoke approach to process COVID-19 test orders and direct them efficiently to the nearest laboratory with capacity.
Halfpenny Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Accumen, Inc., today announced the launch of its COVID-19 Test Capacity and Routing Network (The “Network”). The Network addresses three critical areas of need identified by hospitals and health systems throughout the current healthcare crisis: real-time availability of hospital and labs testing capacity, order entry and routing, and delivery of results to all appropriate parties. This level of connectivity in turn delivers faster turnaround times for these vitally important tests and results.
“Large-scale tracking of laboratory capacity is essential to achieving efficient turnaround times for COVID-19 testing. We are proud to be able to leverage our existing footprint of 870 hospitals and labs to play an active role combating the spread of this coronavirus,” said BG Porter, Accumen’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Halfpenny Technologies operates secure Clinical Data Exchange Networks (cloud-based hubs and portals) across 48 states. This network integrates with the most prevalent lab and hospital information systems and over 400 electronic health record (EHR) systems. As these systems manage clinical data for the majority of the U.S. population, Accumen is uniquely positioned to facilitate the rapid deployment of regional COVID-19 Network hubs to facilitate test capacity tracking, order dispatching and results routing,” added Charles Halfpenny, Chief Technology Officer at Accumen.
The Rockefeller Foundation is working with Accumen to address this lab data operability need. A private foundation, founded by the six-generation Rockefeller family, is focused on the well-being of humanity and advancing innovations around the world, including healthcare.
“We are working collaboratively to accelerate diagnostic testing for COVID-19 with healthcare organizations and other entities like The Rockefeller Foundation that has published its plan to beat back COVID-19 and get Americans back to work more safely. This network is designed to bring unprecedented levels of transparency to testing and results, for COVID-19 and future viruses. We are proud to work with Accumen and support hospitals across the country in their participation,” said Mike Pellini, Managing Partner of Health Venture Firm Section 32 and diagnostic expert who has been contributing to the Rockefeller plan.
Order Processing
Each regional Network hub receives COVID-19 test orders from EHR systems in local physician practices, hospitals, temporary hospitals and drive-thru testing facilities. Those orders are then routed to the closest regional lab with capacity. The orders are submitted in the required format, together with the necessary information to ensure proper laboratory billing, in advance of the specimens’ arrival.
The Network also provides a secure website for order entry to accommodate any sites that lack electronic ordering capabilities.
The Network determines which laboratory is best suited to perform the relevant test, and communicates this back to the ordering system, accompanied by labels and a requisition clearly identifying the destination lab for the ordering specimen.
Test Reporting
As COVID-19 test results are reported to the hub, the automated routing rules direct results to the ordering physicians’ EHR system, health plans, contact tracing solutions, state health departments, CDC, and other agencies as required. Results can also be retrieved from a secure website.
COVID-19 Test Capacity and Routing Network dashboards show lab capacity and turnaround times in real-time, including grouping by platform and Logistical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) to help address reagent and assay inventory imbalances. The Network also supplies information to a national hub for federal health agencies to use to manage the COVID-19 crisis.
Hospitals and labs that are offering COVID-19 testing and would like to join Halfpenny Technologies’ COVID-19 Test Capacity Network, should contact Dan McGuinn at (610) 574-5085. Health plans that would like to participate, should contact Wendi Beld at (970) 391-9577.
About Accumen Inc.
At Accumen, our focus is helping healthcare get better, faster. Accumen is a technology-enabled organization that partners with hospital, health system, commercial laboratory and payer clients, to provide strategic solutions and services that deliver sustainable performance improvements. Our offerings include lab and imaging transformation, consulting, supply chain optimization, lab outreach, 3D post-processing, patient blood utilization, test utilization, anemia management and clinical data exchange. Accumen’s offerings enable our clients to achieve and exceed their cost, quality, and service targets, as well as deliver excellent patient care through evidence-based data and clinical decision support capabilities. Find out more at www.Accumen.com.
Disclaimer: Neither Accumen nor Halfpenny has any authority, responsibility, or liability with respect to any clinical decisions made by – or in connection with – a provider’s laboratory, patient blood management, or other operations. Nothing herein and no aspect of any services provided by Accumen or Halfpenny is intended – or shall be deemed – to subordinate, usurp, or otherwise diminish any providers’ sole authority and discretion and responsibility with respect to all clinical decision-making for its patients.
About Halfpenny Technologies
Founded in 2000, Halfpenny Technologies allows for the exchange and analysis of clinical data to improve patient care. Halfpenny Technologies is a leading provider of clinical data exchange and business intelligence solutions. Its cloud‐based, fully managed solutions provide clinicians, labs, hospitals, pharmacies, accountable care organizations (ACOs) and health plans with a secure, vendor‐neutral infrastructure that supports care coordination, care management, regulatory requirements and data analysis within and between healthcare organizations. For more information, visit www.halfpenny.com.