NEWS
Resource: Meaningful Use Grids from HHS. 
Ambulatory Care Meaningful Use Grid
Inpatient Setting Meaningful Use Grid
Combined Grid

Article: EMR vs. EHR?  I get asked this question all the time, and the answer provides keen insight into the nature of the evolution in healthcare being spurred on by adoption and use of Health IT.

EMR vs. EHR - What is the Difference?
From the ONC Buzz Blog

Workshops: Inquire for availability with Scott Zacks 503-597-8367

This three-part workshop series is designed specifically for small and medium-sized clinics operating both with and without an EHR.  The courses are designed to complement the HITECH Programs, language and newly developed organizations supporting Health IT.

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Adoption, Implementation & Upgrading of EHR Systems

Participants can access this workshop in one of two ways:

This workshop will help health care providers understand the rapidly evolving Health Information Technology environment so they can decide on the course of action that will be most beneficial to participants in the short-, medium-, and long-term.  

The workshop will provide participants with the background information concerning Electronic Health Records (EHRs) that they need in terms of national and local policies and incentive programs, to help their practices to make informed decisions about the adoption, implementation and upgrading of an EHR system.  Participants will use the information gained in the morning sessions to complete their own technology adoption checklist that they can use to develop an action plan for their practice.  

Program Topics:

• The Recent History & Near Future of Health IT Policy and Trends in Oregon and its impact on your practices’ Health IT needs, a timeline.
• Becoming a competent partner in the EHR selection, installation, and implementation processes so that your practice can realize the benefits of EHR implementation.
• Developing your practice’s Health IT plan. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the major State and Federal legislation that will impact their practice’s decisions concerning Health IT
• List the impacts that recent trends in healthcare will have on their practice’s decisions concerning Health IT
• Determine the proper resources that can provide Health IT-related technical and financial assistance appropriate to your stage of HIT adoption
• Complete the workshop’s Technology Adoption Checklist

Who Should Attend: Working Healthcare professionals, Healthcare Providers, Practice Managers, Administrative and Clinical Staff, Support Staff-I.T. or Tech. Support, HIT Project Managers

 

*This seminar is designed as both a stand-alone workshop as well as part of a series of workshops on related and complementary topics. 

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Coordinating Care in a Patient Centered Model

This workshop is the final workshop in a series of workshops that will help healthcare providers understand the rapidly evolving Healthcare Information Technology (Health IT) environment  so they can decide on the course of action that will be most beneficial to participants in the short-, medium-, and long-term.  

The workshop series is designed specifically for small and medium-sized clinics operating both with and without an EHR.  The courses are intended to complement the HITECH Programs, language and organizations in Oregon.

Program Topics:

• Policy updates on rulemaking on Coordinated Care Organizations (CCO) and Accountable Care Organization (ACO) models
• The role of EHRs in facilitating the transition to CCOs and ACOs
• EHR's role in advancing public health initiatives
• The experience of early adopters in Oregon

Learning Objectives: 

• Describe why the transition to CCO and ACOS will require improved communication and data sharing to succeed
• Describe how EHRs will play an important role in advancing public health initiatives
• List two ways in which utilizing certified EHR and HIE standards can improve individual health through a patient centered design to care coordination

Who Should Attend: Working healthcare professionals, Healthcare Providers, Practice Managers, Administrative and Clinical Staff, Support Staff-I.T. or Tech. Support 

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Quality Improvement

This workshop will help healthcare providers understand the rapidly evolving Healthcare Information Technology environment  so they can decide on the course of action that will be most beneficial to participants in the short-, medium-, and long-term. The workshop series is designed specifically for small and medium-sized clinics operating both with and without an EHR.  The courses are intended to complement the HITECH Programs, language and organizations supporting Health IT.

Program Topics:

• Health IT and practice workflow redesign as instruments of quality improvement
• Establishing a culture that supports increased quality and safety
• Assessing patient safety issues
• Implementing quality management and reporting through electronic systems

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze effective implementation planning
• List five objectives of Quality Improvement in healthcare
• Enumerate two examples of how Health IT can improve patient safety
• Describe quality improvement as a goal of meaningful use.
• Analyze three ways that HIT can either help or hinder quality improvement

Who Should Attend: Working healthcare professionals, Healthcare Providers, Practice Managers, Administrative and Clinical Staff, Support Staff-I.T. or Tech. Support 

*This workshop is designed as both a stand-alone workshop as a part of a series of workshops on related and complementary topics. Participants who choose this workshop as a “stand-alone workshop” will be required to access the Recorded Webcast of the June 30^th “Introduction to the Language and Organizations supporting Health IT in Oregon" workshop, which will provide the participant with background information on  Health IT.

Faculty

Scott Zacks is the lead consultant working with Portland Community College on adapting the ONC workforce development curriculum to the reality and needs of Oregon providers. Mr. Zacks brings over twelve years' experience of creative thinking to the practice of designing individualized solutions to meet your organization's unique needs and requirements. He has consulted thousands of practices and medical organizations, in a wide range of healthcare environments and specialties. Including Inpatient and Ambulatory Care, Dental Specialties and Long Term Care.

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January 3, 2011

Registration begins for ARRA HITECH EHR Incentive Program.  Participate early to get the maximum incentive payments!

Check on the links below for up-to-date, detailed information about the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.

• Use the Path to Payment page to find out how to participate in these programs.
• Overview of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
• Overview of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.
• Calendar of important dates.
• Downloads and related link

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1/13/10 Meaningful Use defined. ARRA Stimulus Incentives for physicians.

Notice of Proposed Rules

Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology: HHS: Interim Final Rule

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program; Proposed Rule: CMS

Agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 13 officially published two rules covering the meaningful use of electronic health records provisions of the HITECH Act within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Publication of the rules starts the clock for the public comment period, with both rules having a March 15 deadline for comment. The proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services defines "meaningful use" of electronic health records to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments. It lays out a series of measures to collect and report data to government agencies. The rule is 169 pages long in a PDF format.

An interim final rule from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology sets initial standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria for EHR technology. The rule is 33 pages long in a PDF format. A forthcoming rule will establish an EHR certification program.

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Stimulus Package: Final version published

www.recovery.gov

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Medicare Reimbursement Incentive Schedule

$44,000 per 'eligible provider' over a 5 year period. 

Note the higher reimbursement rates each year before 2013, and decreases after 2014.

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Pulling Forward the Benefits of Healthcare IT

Posted by Aneesh Chopra on October 29, 2009 at 09:52 AM EDT

Today, the Health IT Standards Committee within the Department of Health and Human Services will begin an unprecedented effort to get the public’s view on how our work might "pull forward" the benefits of healthcare information technology (IT).  Specifically, we’re interested in uncovering new strategies to accelerate the adoption of health IT standards.  This effort began with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, calling for recommendations on standards to promote safe, secure, healthcare information exchange.

“Standards” are really the guardians of quality, consistency, and interoperability.  Without thoughtful, clear and uniform standards, we cannot enable the seamless and secure exchange of electronic health information (or the benefits that accrue to providers and patients from such protected exchanges).

So, while the exploration of technical standards may seem mundane to some, it is foundational to electronic health records (EHRs) and electronic health information exchange more broadly.  In other words, it’s worth paying some attention to, and voicing your opinions.

Our process continues with a public hearing today in Washington, DC. Find out how to participate via phone and webcast here. We are convening four panels of experts with on-the-ground experience in interoperability standards - providers, quality stakeholders, health IT vendors, and a group with lessons drawn outside of healthcare. Thanks to HIT Standards Committee member Judy Murphy for her leadership on this effort.

The public hearing draws to a close this afternoon but we will continue the conversation through an Online Forum over the next two weeks.  Thanks to Committee Member Cris Ross for his leadership on this effort.  Given the breadth of interests, we have arranged a series of Committee Member blog posts to begin the dialogue, starting with HIT Standards Committee Vice-Chair John Halamka's summary of our work to date, which will post on Friday.  We will concurrently enable ongoing discussion threads on the following topics:

1. Proposed Standards (General Discussion)
2. Interoperability
3. Vocabularies
4. Privacy
5. Security
6. Quality
7. Implementation Case Studies (Your Story - the good, bad and
   in-between)

We have also enabled a "voting" feature on submissions to allow you - the public - an opportunity to emphasize points raised in a given post. Our goal is to harness the shared wisdom of our community to inform the work of the HIT Standards Committee in the weeks and months ahead.

The tight schedule of this process is designed to ensure that your ideas inform the HIT Standards Committee at its November 19th meeting.  However, your ongoing feedback on our efforts is also encouraged via written submission or public comment at any of the subsequent monthly meetings of the HIT Standards Committee.

The process of accelerating the adoption of health IT standards will not end this week, this month, or this year. This is an ongoing effort, and your participation will continue to be essential to its success.

Aneesh Chopra is U.S. Chief Technology Officer

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/10/29/pulling-forward-benefits-healthcare-it

"Because of what we did, lives will be saved and health care costs will be cut with new computerized medical records."    

                                                        -President Barack Obama

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