Getting your message out to a broad audience has never been easier, thanks to the various methods of electronic communication that are now commonplace. The reverse process—sending confidential information to specific recipients in a secure manner—is considerably more challenging. This is the challenge that occupational healthcare staff face when sending authorized parties (such as insurance company employees, approved client company personnel, and physicians) the patient information they require.

In addition to being constrained by who may receive information and how it is sent, clinic personnel must also provide the data in a timely manner. Posting the information on the Internet is an appealing solution, as it would allow access at the recipient’s convenience. But how do you guarantee that the information is current? And how do you maintain appropriate levels of security and confidentiality?

A Selective View of the Clinic Data

Occupational Health Research (OHR), developer of the first commercially successful PC information system for managing occupational medicine clinics, is also the first to offer a viable answer to these questions. Clinics using Windows versions of SYSTOC^®, OHR’s practice management software, can offer on-line access to specific patient data through a new system called iSYSTOC^™ at no additional cost.

iSYSTOC is not an open doorway through which you can access all clinic data. The system’s design limits authorized users to viewing the information contained in a Java Server Page (JSP). That page is organized into a variety of views, which now includes four different injury/illness views, a Drug Test List, and a Company Summary. (Future versions of the system will contain an even greater selection of report options.) Because the JSP is dynamic, information entered into SYSTOC is instantaneously reflected on the server page, assuring that only current data are provided, and requiring no additional data entry.

Of course, having instantaneous access is not much help if your clinic’s data entry is not up to date. The usefulness of iSYSTOC is therefore enhanced by the design structure of SYSTOC 7.1, which is based on a system of pre-defined clinic orders. These orders make data entry for the patient visit as simple as checking off the services provided, while unexpected services or supplies are easily added with a few mouse clicks. Even the creation of the medical record can be streamlined by using templates. It is not unreasonable to expect that the company can use iSYSTOC to see the nature of the treatment, work restrictions and services provided before the employee even returns from the clinic.

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Access is Secure

Each clinic completely controls who has access, as well as what can be seen. Before someone can become an authorized user, clinic personnel must first enter certain information into SYSTOC’s security files. This information limits the user to "read only" access and assigns a filter that limits viewing to an applicable category of information, such as patients who are employed by a requesting company, that have a particular insurance coverage, or are treated by a particular physician.

Finally, the user is given a unique user ID and password, without which access to iSYSTOC would be denied. When handing out IDs and passwords, clinics may require that recipients sign agreements stating that they will not share this information, even with co-workers. Changing passwords frequently is another recommended security precaution.

Additional security is provided by a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection operating at 128-bit RSA level encryption. This just means that the data travel over the Internet in encrypted form. Anyone trying to listen in on the data stream could not understand it without the key, which is only provided to authorized users.

To access iSYSTOC, authorized users need a computer with Internet service and a web browser. After logging in, users simply select a report, specify one or more parameters from the options provided on the screen, and then view their data (and only their data).

Community Health Network Uses iSYSTOC

Community Health Network’s Occupational Health Services in Indianapolis is currently using iSYSTOC as the basis for their "Occ Link" program. Sales and Marketing Director Terry Sutterfield is pleased with their results. "The time savings to our clients is immeasurable," he says "With just a few strokes on a keyboard, employers will be better able to manage multiple cases, track injury trends so they can quickly make changes, and get pre-employment drug screen results as soon as they are complete. This is a first for this market, and we are very excited to be able to offer this new level of service to Indianapolis area employers."

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See a Demonstration

See Community Health Network’s Occupational Health Services Occ Link program by browsing to: www.ehealthindiana.com/occhealth/index.asp. Leave the UserID and Password fields blank to tour the site.

Interested in seeing iSYSTOC in action? Call us at 800.444.8432 or e-mail solutions@systoc.com to request your password. Then browse to www.systoc.com/portal and click the iSYSTOC link.