I’ve seen a lot of change in health care and technology. I was working in a hospital IT department in 1982 when IBM announced the IBM Personal Computer. It was about that time that the Universal Billing Form (UB-82) and DRG’s (Diagnosis Related Groups) were introduced to standardize health care data and information. I remember the beginnings of electronic claims and when Microsoft announced a new operating system for the IBM PC called Windows. Apple enthusiasts laughed and said that IBM stood for “I’m building a MAC”.
In 1987 I was introduced to the home infusion industry. Back then the challenge was to convince the physician that complex therapies could be accomplished outside an acute care setting. Medicare claims were sent to Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina or Transamerica in California, depending on what side of the Mississippi River the patient lived on. After 3 years of developing a home infusion software system for Dr. Gene Graves’ company, I Care of Arkansas, I was so convinced of the potential of this niche market that I decided to start a company dedicated to providing the most robust and comprehensive home infusion software product available. I knew the power of information to improve the efficiency and profitability of a company and so I called the company Management by Information or MBI as it came to be known. This was in January of 1990.
The home infusion industry really took off in the 90’s. Option Care expanded to over 200 franchises in 42 states and went public in 1992. NHIA was formed to represent the industry. Healthcare Automation, CPR+ and Hanns On Software launched software products. Medicare divided the country into four regional areas and established DMERCs to handle the growing number of Part B claims. The HCFA 1500 was introduced and the industry rapidly expanded to handle much more complex therapies in the home. Oh yes, and Al Gore invented the Internet. Option Care purchased MBI in 1996 and in 2000 I said good-bye and started a new journey called Rock-Pond Solutions.
Getting into a fast moving river without a safe entry point can be a very tricky and dangerous task. Rock-Pond Solutions was formed in 2000 with the mission to “provide safe access to technology for health care providers”. The idea was that a large rock placed half in the water and half grounded on the land would create a pool of water that would provide safe access to an otherwise dangerous current. Maybe that was it, or maybe I really didn’t know what was next and headed out to spend time with former customers, friends and contacts I had made over the past 14 years in the home infusion industry to see what was really going on.
Over the next 11 years, everything seemed to lead to the fundamental truth that home infusion providers had a lot of data but didn’t have the information they needed. Everybody was demanding data and information and providers were struggling with data buried in private Excel spreadsheets, received via email, printed on paper and written on white boards in the pharmacy. They were unable to come up with what they needed in an efficient and timely manner. Time and time again Rock-Pond was able to pull data out of their systems, help businesses refine their processes, automate and integrate data interchange between systems and encourage better utilization of the core home infusion software to “turn the lights on” and navigate the changing health care currents.
Right before my eyes, “Safe access to technology for your business” turned into “the information you need from the data you’ve got”. It was like “Management by Information” all over again. We launched Rock-Pond Reports, then the Rock-Pond Information Center and Rock-Pond Connect and have found ourself working with customers in over 25 states.
There are two things you can absolutely count on. Changes in health care and technology are not going to slow down any time soon and Rock-Pond Solutions’ passion for data and information will be there for you when you need it. It’s what we love to do and it is what separates us from so many other health care and technology companies. Thanks for visiting our website and for making it to the end of my 30 year story.
If you are in the home infusion or specialty pharmacy industry, please take the time to meet our team and our customers, learn about our products and understand what we do. Better yet, pick up the phone and give me a call. I’d be grateful for the opportunity to meet you and learn more about your business challenges and opportunities. We will do our best to leverage our passion for data and information to help you be more successful. Did I say that this is what we love to do? It is.
Pete Tanguay, Founder and President
Rock-Pond Solutions
501-450-6446
Find out what Rock-Pond Solutions can do for your organization. Click on the link below, or call 501-450-6446, and one of our representatives will follow up with you to schedule a demo of our reporting solutions.