The Truth About EMR Implementation Revealed

Sept. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- Electronic health records (EHRs), also known as electronic medical records (EMRs), have received a lot of attention since the Obama administration committed $36 billion in stimulus funds in 2009 to encourage hospitals and healthcare facilities to digitize patient data and make better use of information technology. 2009 also ushered in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), created to establish the guidelines for the $36 billion in available funds.

Since then, there has been a lot of debate and confusion within the Healthcare and Technology communities. On July 13th of this year, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their 864-page document entitled “Meaningful Use.” This “final rule” established measures that physicians using an EHR will need to meet in order to receive their HITECH Act incentives. Currently, only 17% of physicians in the world have adopted EHR in their practices.

So what does all of this mean? There’s money available for local healthcare practices to implement and correctly employ EHRs! Eligible (non-hospital-based) healthcare providers can qualify for up to $44,000 in HITECH incentives for “meaningful” use of an EHR between 2011 and 2015, and a three-provider practice could receive $132,000 in Medicare incentives through HITECH. It’s important to note that providers who do not adopt EHR technology by 2015 will be penalized.

Above all, do not rush the process. Work with staff and your EHR vendor to develop timelines that will meet all your needs. Speeding through the process can cause unnecessary setbacks that will disrupt the entire project, create chaos, and push staff to lose focus.

With 2015 not so far off, the task can seem overwhelming. Starting now can ensure a successful return on your investment of resources!

Join us on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon for the following discussion:
•   What is EMR and why is this conversation so important right now?
•   Government Funds: What's the deal? Is it for you?
•   How to choose an EMR that's right for your practice.
•   Practice workflows are unique; what you should consider for the right EMR fit.
•   The role IT infrastructure plays in a successful practice.

Visit http://www.fandotech.com/truth-about-emr-implementation-e... for registration information.

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