Ehrs : Make Plans For Adoption Today

With $19 billion available from the HITECH Act to encourage adoption of EHRs (electronic

health records), eligible professionals (EPs) have more to gain than convenience and flexibility by going electronic. Eligible professionals who adopt and utilize an EHR will receive federal reimbursements of up to $44,000 depending on when they first begin to show meaningful use of an EHR.

Aside from the stimulus payments of up to $44,000 for eligible professionals who adopt and utilize EHRs beginning in 2011, they also provide convenience to physicians, more universal care for patients, and a more efficient clinical documentation system.

Why should you make plans for EHR adoption today? Health and Human Services (HHS) is in the final stages of announcing a certifying body for electronic health records. Once HHS has defined who will certify EHRs and the criteria for certification, physician practices should start researching EHR companies and putting together a timeline and a budget for adopting EHRs.

Another reason to make plans to go electronic is patient care. EHRs help make the task of recording the patient encounter easy with different options that fit the needs of the individual practitioner. Many EHRs now offer traditional transcription, point and click or speech recognition software as a way to capture the patient encounter. The patient information becomes much easier to manage and review in EHRs, giving physicians more time to care for and treat patients. There's no longer any need to translate the illegible handwriting that doctors are notoriously known for, and the doctors' productivity levels increase significantly.

The switch to EHRs is an important decision for any medical practice, so now is the time to plan how the process will work. Start by creating an implementation schedule and stick to it. If a transition is well planned, it will be welcomed by staff. They may have to learn new processes that may be difficult at the beginning, but in the long run their jobs will become easier and they'll appreciate having made the switch. Make the adoption of your electronic health record a priority, as a well thought out plan will help you become one of the first to receive stimulus incentives.

The clock is ticking on EHRs

Beginning in 2011, eligible professionals will become eligible for federal payments, provided they've met the requirements for "meaningful use." Those who make the switch in 2011 can see up to $44,000 per physician, while those who wait until 2014 see only $24,000. After 2015, the payments end and physicians who haven't switched will be penalized.

By adopting an EHR sooner rather than later, your practice will have plenty of time to prepare for stimulus incentives. Once HHS has defined the certifying body for EHRs, you'll be able to start using your electronic system "meaningfully" so you'll be able to start reporting on it. In addition, you'll begin to improve your operating costs by reducing paper, speeding up reimbursement schedules and having more time to see and care for patients.

by: Craig Mercure

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