» print

» email

Electronic Health Records - What’s at Stake for Doctors?

InformationWeek Speaks with Dr. David Blumenthal Regarding Healthcare

June 24, 2010

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services announced that in June, they are working to finalize the Meaningful Use standards for Electronic Health Records (EHR). Physicians must demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology, according to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act - a part of the larger Economic Stimulus Bill.  HHS put their Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) in charge of defining meaningful use and certification of EHRs.

Dr. David Blumenthal, the head of ONC, sat down for a Q&A session with InformationWeek.  When asked what are the biggest risks to doctors who don't get on board with Electronic Health Records besides the financial penalties, Blumenthal answered:

"First of all, any doctor who wants to sell his or her practice or who wants to recruit a partner to give new life to the practice or to expand it will have a lot of trouble recruiting a young physician-someone under the age of 45-if they don't have an EHR or don't plan to acquire one. This new generation of physicians isn't going to tolerate a paper world."

When asked about privacy and security concerns for patient health records, Blumenthal suggested that recent legislation is helping shape the future:

"The HITECH act enacted a whole series of provisions to tighten the privacy and security laws under HIPAA. And the Office of Civil Rights has already issued an interim final rule on breach notification that requires the notification of patients or other individuals whose data is breached. There's also a series of much harsher penalties for breaches due to negligence. There are a series of restrictions on the use of patient information for the marketing of products, for fundraising, or for other uses they haven't given permission for. These will begin to give the public some insight into what we're doing."

Additionally, HHS' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched their official website for the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. This website provides the most up-to-date, detailed information about the EHR incentive programs:  http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms.  The website provides details about who is eligible for the programs, how to register, meaningful use, upcoming EHR training and events, and much more.

It's expected that many healthcare providers who haven't deployed EHRs yet, are working towards EHR adoption, as the meaningful use requirements have been released.  Now, certification criteria for EHRs have been released and soon EHRs will be able to become certified.

Read the full interview:
Q&A: Dr. David Blumenthal On Getting Doctors On Board With EHRs
HITECH Act Help

###

About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic Health Records...Better Patient Care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet "meaningful use" requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

Help others find this information: