Using data from Maine's statewide health information exchange, researchers developed an online risk model that predicted the healthcare utilization and needs of patients for a six-month period.
The study was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Researchers analyzed a cohort of more than 1.2 million patients, first looking retrospectively at healthcare resource utilization to develop a predictive model.
The model was then integrated into the HIE to forecast patients' resource utilization over the next six months.
The model appeared to be highly effective, as prospectively predicted risks were consistent with healthcare utilization over ht next six months for patients.
"The model and associated online applications were designed for tracking the evolving nature of total population risk, in a longitudinal manner, for healthcare resource utilization," researchers concluded. "It will enable more effective care management strategies driving improved patient outcomes."
More articles on health IT:
1.5M patient records exposed on Amazon Web Services
ONC's final 5-year Health IT Strategic Plan: 10 things to know
GAO report: CMS won't know ICD-10 readiness until code processing begins