Join Todd Krieger, gloStream’s Marketing and Communications Team Leader, for a discussion about the economic stimulus and the EMR incentives included in the law. Todd will cover the specific requirements for EMR use, the payment schedule for Medicare and Medicaid providers, and the requirements necessary for doctors to receive their stimulus funding.

Questions and answers will follow the presentation.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below:

Thu, Jun 3, 2010 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/579996385

Tue, Jun 15, 2010 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/270037152

Wed, Jun 30, 2010 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM EDT

Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/417269120

Wed, Jul 7, 2010 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM EDT

Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/226553777

Fri, Jul 23, 2010 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/323233529

Thu, Aug 5, 2010 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/572671081

Given that there are so many incentives for health care providers to implement EHRs (and so many penalties if they don’t), it would seem that doctors would be lining up to purchase systems-but they aren’t.

In some cases, it’s because health care providers don’t think the requirements have been sufficiently clarified. In other cases, it’s because they think EHRs are too complex. (In fact, an HIMSS white paper recently named “usability shortcomings” as a key factor in EHR adoption.)

However, actually neither perception is true.

Meaningful use guidelines are clear enough to define the basic functionality a system needs in order to be certified-and many EHR providers are offering free upgrades if there are any changes to regulations in the future.

And regarding complexity, it’s understandable to not want to spend months learning a new system; it should be usable “out of the box.”

Therefore, a good option is a Microsoft-based system with a “balanced architecture”-which means it combines three essential elements that help healthcare professionals practice medicine on their own terms:

• Doctor dashboard: A centralized screen from which each section of a patient’s medical chart can be accessed with one click.
• Discreet data elements: Items that appear in a drop down menu or can be chosen from a list, such as procedures, medications, or billing code.
• Free-flow text: The ability to type text into a Word document, dictate into the computer using voice recognition technology, or use Microsoft drawing tools to highlight a portion of an x-ray.

Such EHRs are available, and we can guide you to them. So avoid the long lines that are sure to arise as we approach implementation deadlines. Contact us today for an EHR recommendation that both meets the stated guidelines and is easy to use.

A federal committee has made recommendations that could put an end to the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology’s (CCHIT’s) monopoly on certifying electronic health records (EHRs)-but the recommendations won’t make the CCHIT obsolete.

The CCHIT is a private, not-for-profit organization designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a “recognized certification body” for EHRs.

In practice, the CCHIT defines what functionality makes an EHR meet “meaningful use” requirements. But it also evaluates the benefits of different EHRs. By purchasing products with the CCHIT-certified mark, health care providers can be assured they are making a reliable investment in a product that meets expected industry standards and works well.

Now, the federal health information technology (HIT) policy committee’s certification and adoption work group has proposed that a new type of certification be created and other organizations be allowed to provide it.

This new type of certification-which the work group calls “HHS certification”-would simply specify that an EHR has the minimum “meaningful use” functionality. HHS certification, according to the work group’s proposal, would not be a seal of approval “or an indication of the benefits of one system over another,” as the CCHIT offers.

Although the work group recommends that EHR vendors should only be required to get certification from one accredited organization, this recommendation would not make the CCHIT obsolete. The CCHIT, it appears, will continue to offer its CCHIT-certified mark, which will go above and beyond HHS certification by providing information on each system’s benefits.

The end result: CCHIT certification will remain the gold standard.

Related articles:

• “Multiple EHR Certifying Entities Proposed”
• The work group’s initial recommendations (click on “Public-Private Initiatives,” then “Health IT Policy Committee”
• More information about CCHIT-Certified products

President Obama has told the American Medical Association (AMA) that information technology (IT) is the first step to reforming the U.S. health care system.

On June 15, the president delivered the keynote speech at the AMA’s annual conference, emphasizing that there is “widespread agreement” that IT will be necessary to improve the health care system.

Most notably, he emphasized that health care practitioners must switch from paper to electronic recordkeeping systems - electronic medical records (EMRs).

“You shouldn’t have to tell every new doctor you see about your medical history or what prescriptions you’re taking,” Obama said. “All that information should be stored securely in a private medical record so that your information can be tracked from one doctor to another.”

The Obama administration is working toward making that vision a reality. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic stimulus package enacted by Congress and signed into law by Obama on February 17, 2009, earmarked $19 billion for health care IT spending.

And more is likely to come. It is unclear how much more, as Congress is currently working on comprehensive legislation to reform the U.S. health care system, and partisan bickering is sure to be expected.

But one thing is certain: There is no precedent for the massive investment in health IT we can expect, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. Currently, only 17 percent of U.S. physicians and 8 percent to 10 percent of U.S. hospitals have at least a basic EMR. Far fewer have and routinely use comprehensive systems that would allow them to fully realize the potential of the technology.

Obama has set a deadline of October 1 for Congress to present a plan.

Related articles:

• www.healthcareitnews.com/news/obama-names-health-it-first-step-reform
• www.healthcareitnews.com/news/obama-congress-healthcare-reform-must-not-wait
• http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMp0900665#R3

The majority of the U.S. population is behind President Obama’s efforts to digitize medical records.

Currently, only 17 percent of U.S. physicians and 8 to 10 percent of U.S. hospitals have at least a basic EMR. But the Obama administration is pushing for reform, earmarking $19 billion for health care IT spending with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The American public likes the idea, according to a survey conducted by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said it is important for their health care providers to use EMRs. Specifically, respondents said that if EMRs were widely used:

• Their doctors would do a better job coordinating their care (72 percent)
• The overall quality of care in the country would be improved (67 percent)
• Fewer people would get unnecessary medical care (58 percent)
• There would be fewer medical errors (53 percent)

However, Americans are worried about the privacy of their health care records should EMRs be widely adopted, with 59 percent of respondents questioning whether EMRs would be able to protect the confidentiality of patients’ records.

That’s where we come into the picture. We can help choose and implement an EMR that protects your patients’ privacy and increases the efficiency and quality of the healthcare you provide.

Related articles:

http://news.cnet.com/Why-are-doctors-such-Luddites/2009-13836_3-6249511.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

http://www.npr.org/documents/2009/apr/nprpoll_charts.pdf

The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) includes a component referred to as HITECH, which earmarks an unprecedented $19 billion to promote the adoption and use of health care information technology, especially electronic health records (EHRs). Health care providers who implement EHRs will receive major incentive payments-and those who don’t will pay penalties starting in 2015.

As a result, health care providers are rallying to implement EHRs-but experts warn against doing so without help, since poorly designed or badly run EHRs can jeopardize patient safety and privacy.

Although with task automation and increased billing efficiency the return on investment usually justifies the cost, implementing and maintaining an EHR also presents a number of problems. Reportedly few providers-17% of doctors and 10% of hospitals-have even basic EHRs, so most will be starting from scratch. And starting from scratch isn’t easy, since installing and maintaining an EHR can be a daunting and time-consuming task.

It can also be dangerous. For example, according to a study published in Pediatrics in 2005, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh saw a rise in death rates after computerizing its order-entry system. Although the reason is unclear, it may be because the new system led the hospital to take longer to begin treating some patients.

Because of risks created by poor EHR installation or user training, the physician in charge of the federal government’s efforts, David Blumenthal, warned health care providers against trying to install EHRs without proper support from local, well-trained IT professionals with experience implementing EHR systems. Blumenthal called technical assistance a “critical factor” in reducing the risk of poorly designed or badly run systems, which can jeopardize patient safety and privacy.

Feel free to contact us if you’re considering implementing an EHR. We can help you develop a cost-effective system, train your staff, and ensure proper maintenance-which can reduce your risks and improve your return on investment.

New Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rules effective May 1, 2009, make it more important than ever for health care providers to establish identity theft protection programs.

The FTC’s “Red Flag Rules” require health care providers who are considered creditors to implement programs that are designed to prevent, detect, and mitigate identity theft in connection with the opening and maintaining of accounts.

There is some question as to what makes a health care provider a creditor. Formally, a health care provider is a creditor if it regularly accepts deferred payment for goods and services, and offers accounts for which there is a reasonably foreseeable risk of identity theft (such as accounts that permit delayed payments or multiple transactions). However, it appears likely that ordinary billing and collection practices-such as billing a patient some time after services are rendered instead of at the point of service-make health care providers subject to the Red Flag Rules.

Although the new rules do require some effort on the part of health care providers, they don’t have to be a burden. We can help you develop an identify theft protection program that will ensure you are adhering the Red Flag Rules. Please contact us for more information.