Archive for the ‘Health Information Technology’ category

Ohio Regional Extension Centers (REC) Partners

April 15th, 2010

Regional Partners for Ohio State Health Information Technology Initiatives

Governor Ted Strickland announced that seven regional sites across Ohio will receive a total of $26.8 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) resources to assist in the implementation of the state’s health information technology initiative. The resources are a portion of Ohio’s total $43 million ARRA award for the Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP), the non-profit entity designated by Strickland to lead the implementation of health information technology in Ohio.

Regional Partners Announced :

Akron Regional Hospital Association will receive $3,928,500 to assist 873 primary care physicians.

Case Western Reserve University will receive $7,942,500 to assist 1,765 primary care physicians.

Central Ohio Health Information Exchange (COHIE) will receive $6,084,000 to assist 1,352 primary care physicians.

Greater Dayton Area Health Information Network (GDAHA) will receive $2,898,000 to assist 644 primary care physicians.

Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio will receive $2,875,500 to assist 639 primary care physicians.

Northeast Ohio (NEO) HealthForce will receive $1,453,500 to assist 323 primary care physicians.

Ohio University will receive $1,818,000 to assist 404 primary care physicians.

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has received $7,942,500 in federal stimulus funds from the Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP), the state designated entity for health information exchange development. The funding positions the School of Medicine as a regional extension center (REC). The designation will allow the school to help 1,765 health care providers in Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties advance the use of health information technology (HIT) in their practices.

“This is great news for Case Western Reserve School of Medicine’s facilities and patients in northeast Ohio,” said U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. “Health information technology helps reduce medical errors and improves patient care. By helping doctors and nurses consult with one another through technology, we will improve the quality of medical care offered across our state – particularly in rural areas. And by helping medical facilities adopt new information technologies, we will reduce medical errors and lower health costs.”

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AMGA MGMA Perot to Provide Services to Regional Extension Centers

October 9th, 2009

AMGA, MGMA and Perot Form Alliance for Services to New Regional Extension Centers

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA), the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and Perot Systems Corporation (NYSE: PER) today announced the formation of an alliance of the three organizations to offer electronic health record (EHR)-related training and implementation services to newly established Health Information Technology (HIT) Regional Extension Centers (RECs or Extension Centers).

“The HIT Regional Extension Centers are going to play a critical role in helping targeted physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers recognize the benefits of Health Information Technology and how it will improve patient care and healthcare economics,” said Donald Fisher, Ph.D., President and CEO of AMGA. “Through the Alliance, we are prepared to help these newly established Extension Centers have an immediate impact in their designated regions by providing a number of key services and competitive solutions.”

“MGMA is committed to helping medical group practices make the right decisions when it comes to implementing EHRs and making other critical technology decisions,” said William Jessee, M.D., FACMPE, President and CEO of MGMA. “We believe this partnership represents a natural extension of our mission, and we are pleased to be a part of the team helping the Extension Centers achieve this critical mission.”

“The services the Alliance can provide are geared towards educating physician practices, hospitals and other qualifying healthcare organizations about EHR and HIE technology,” said Chuck Lyles, president of Perot Systems healthcare group. “This will allow these groups to make the most informed decision about the appropriate EHR for their organization and how they can successfully manage the implementation and integration into their current workflows.”

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Health Information Technology Extension Program

August 11th, 2009

By statute, the Health Information Technology Extension Program (or ‘‘Extension Program’’) consists of a National Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC) and Regional Extension Centers (or ‘‘regional centers’’).

This website will contain updated information regarding national, state and regional efforts to establish these centers.

The major focus for the Centers’ work with most of the providers that they serve will be to help to select and successfully implement certified electronic health records (EHRs).

We propose that the goals of the regional center program should be to:
—Encourage adoption of electronic health records by clinicians and hospitals;
—Assist clinicians and hospitals to become meaningful users of electronic health records; and
—Increase the probability that adopters of electronic health record systems will become meaningful users of the
technology.
The HITECH Act states that ‘‘the objective of the regional centers is to enhance and promote the adoption of health information technology through—
(A) Assistance with the implementation, effective use, upgrading, and ongoing maintenance of health information technology, including electronic health records, to healthcare providers nationwide;
(B) broad participation of individuals from industry, universities, and State governments;
(C) active dissemination of best practices and research on the implementation, effective use, upgrading, and ongoing maintenance of health information technology, including electronic health records, to health care providers in order to improve the quality of healthcare and protect the privacy and security of health information;
(D) participation, to the extent practicable, in health information exchanges;
(E) utilization, when appropriate, of the expertise and capability that exists in Federal agencies other than the Department; and
(F) integration of health information technology, including electronic health records, into the initial and ongoing training of health professionals and others in the healthcare industry that would be instrumental to improving the
quality of healthcare through the smooth and accurate electronic use and exchange of health information.’’

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