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November 13, 2009
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Visions@work featured in the November 13, 2009 edition of The Daily Commercial
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New paperless medical program promotes easier doctor referrals.
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LEESBURG -- A Clermont-based
software company is changing the way physicians and hospitals handle patient referrals,
switching from a paper to an electronic system.
The software eliminates the need for paper referrals, an industry norm, said Pranam
Ben, CEO of Visions@Work.
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About 90 percent of health care providers operate on a paper-based referral system,
he said. This results in inefficiencies in tracking patients once they've been referred
to a specialist, he added.
The patient is often expected to take the referral and arrange care for themselves,
resulting in delays and serious health consequences, Ben said. That's especially
prevalent among elderly patients, he said.
And even when the patient has chosen a specialist, it may not be the right specialist,
Ben said. Then the patient is sent back to their primary care physician for another
referral, further delaying care, he said.
Visions@Work has developed a software program called Preferr, which allows doctors
and hospitals to communicate with each other online through a patient referral and
monitoring system.
"Preferr is a way to modernize the process and improve efficiencies," said Ben.
"We're improving the continuity of care and bridging the care gap."
Healthcare providers using Preferr can choose a specialist and make appointments
for their patients using an electronic system. Patient records and other information
are sent between the specialist and the primary care doctor. A patient's doctor
can even chat with the specialist using the software's messaging system, eliminating
the need to use email -- no spam -- or the phone -- missed phone calls.
"I want Preferr to be the gold standard world wide," said Ben. "We want all subscribers
to use it to improve relationships."
Lake County health care providers will get to use the software free for a year.
It's $12,000 a year for hospitals and $300 for physicians to subscribe.
Lake-Sumter Community College's Electronic Health Records Support Technician pilot
program also received a free subscription to the software.
The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission had urged Visions@Work to form
a partnership with Lake County healthcare providers and Lake-Sumter Community College.
"The health and wellness committee of the EDC recognized the need within the community
to assist local hospitals and physicians with the new records retention requirements
(legislation)," said Shelly Weidenhamer, the Lake County regional director for the
Metro Orlando EDC.
Visions@Work is creating high-wage jobs in Lake County. Ben said within the next
year he plans to hire five to 10 sales and marketing; account management; professional
services and product management positions.
How many jobs Visions@Work brings to Lake ultimately depends on the success of the
pilot program with local doctors and students, Ben said.
"He'll be creating higher-value, higher-wage jobs," Weidenhamer said.
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