Charles Lyons-Burt
Cerner will help the Social Security Administration modernize its electronic health record retrieval system under a new agreement.
The health care technology provider said Thursday it has agreed to transition the SSA from a system that relies on faxed or mailed scanned health documentation to a streamlined electronic database.
After the work is performed, the company hopes to have reduced wait times for patients getting records from a matter of weeks or months to seconds or minutes.
The agreement is intended to produce a mutual benefit for patients and health care providers. Due to an expedited confirmation process, those with disabilities will be able to access their benefits faster.
In addition, the electronic system is positioned to result in less consultations and examinations for patients and an accelerated insurance coverage process.
For health care centers, Cerner’s modifications will likely alleviate administrative workload through automated SSA payments and diminished uncompensated service as disability pronouncements will be made more efficiently.
“Cerner is proud to help the federal government better support those in need by getting them the benefits they are entitled to more quickly and efficiently,” said Sam Lambson, vice president of interoperability at Cerner.
The company is introducing the new system to three clients in the immediate future and making the services electable for other customers going forward.
The company is currently doing similar work with the EHR systems of the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense as well as the U.S. Coast Guard.
