EMR Implementation & HITECH Act Blog
A blog for doctors and medical office staff seeking assistance with EMR and the HITECH Act.
Monthly Archives: September 2009
2009
The HITECH Act: Just What Is Meaningful Use?
According to the HITECH Act, physicians are eligible to receive up to $44,000 in total incentives per physician for “meaningful use” of a certified Electronic Medical Record (EMR) starting in 2011. But just what is meaningful use?
In his June 2009 speech to a Health Information Technology symposium, Dr. David Blumenthal said, “Meaningful use is going to be an evolving concept.” Being President Obama’s point man for the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, Dr. Blumenthal should know. He continues by describing the HITECH Act’s meaningful use concept as a method to “set goals about health care, and not about information technology.”
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Filed under: HITECH Act, Meaningful Use
Tagged: HITECH Act, HITECH and HIPAA, HITECH Implementation, HITECH Physician Incentives, Meaningful Use
2009
Need an EMR Software Guru? Hire a Clinical Application Coordinator
As the health care industry transitions to electronic medical records (EMRs), more professionals are realizing EMR software can be a challenge. In fact, at some stage in the process of implementing an EMR system, medical offices may need to hire at least one clinical application coordinator (CAC). The reason is simple: few staffed health care professionals can spare the time required to become an expert in EMR software. Issues such as following best practices and training of health care professionals can be time consuming. And don’t forget the ever-changing legal and political landscape born out of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Whether a medical office hires a professional on a part time basis or makes them a permanent member of staff, attempting to stay in compliance without a coordinator is a major gamble.
Filed under: EMR, Electronic Medical Records, HITECH Act
Tagged: CAC, Clinical Application Coordinator, Electronic Medical Records, EMR, EMR CAC, EMR Compliance, EMR Software, HITECH
2009
Welcome to a New EMR Blog for Health Care Professionals
Starting in the 4th century B.C., when Hippocrates first uttered the words “Primum Non Nocere” and continuing through February 2009, when President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, there have been rules and regulations governing the practice of medicine.
Some rules, such as that famous dictum “first do no harm”, are easy to understand. Others, such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) are not.
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Filed under: Electronic Medical Records, HIPAA, HITECH Act
Tagged: EHR, EHR Implementation, EMR, HITECH Compliance, HITECH Incentives
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