CentrEast Regional Extension Center - White Papers

In order to qualify for federal pay incentives outlined in the national health information technology agenda, healthcare providers must be able to demonstrate their participation in health information exchange (HIE) by late 2011. The goal of HIE is to enable access to and retrieval of clinical data in order to provide more efficient, cost-effective, patient-centered care. The National Health Information Network (NHIN), a "network of networks," will connect a variety of entities needing to exchange health information, while also focusing on requirements to ensure the secure exchange of health information over the internet.

Planning and implementing a robust, scalable, cost-effective information technology (IT) infrastructure is critical to ensuring a smooth and successful transition to an electronic health record (EHR) system in your facility. This guide is intended to assist you through the basic IT planning process as you move toward the adoption and implementation of an effective EHR system.

In an effort to encourage and support the widespread adoption and use of the electronic health records (EHRs), Congress passed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Although the focus of HITECH is to encourage the increased use of EHRs, the ultimate goal is to mainstream EHR use as a means of improving the overall quality of medical care. When implemented correctly, EHRs can provide many benefits for providers and their patients.

The Office of the National Coordinator, working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been tasked with the responsibility of establishing criteria that indicate when electronic health records (EHRs) are being used effectively, termed “meaningful use.” In an effort to encourage and support the widespread adoption and use of EHRs, financial incentives for providers have been put in place. Unprecedented governmental funding has been made available for these incentive programs through CMS for professionals, hospitals, and critical access hospitals that reach the designated benchmarks and achieve meaningful use.