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program, means meeting established thresholds for 15 mandatory “core” and 5 of 10 elective “menu” measures (see table on the last story page) + Electronically exchange health infor- mation that will improve care quality + Submit information related to clinical quality and other selected measures Considering how much the selection of an EHR could potentially affect both a practice’s daily workflow, and finances, privately practicing physicians would be well advised to assemble and review as much pertinent information as possible before making a commitment to one particular EHR product. But given the realities of time manage- ment, and the ever-increasing quantity of technology-related advertising and “expert” opinion competing for your attention, not to mention how the definition of what constitutes an “eligible” provider depends on a medical profes- sional’s specialty, practice size, and the demographics of the patient population served, where can the busy clinician turn for help in making this important choice? For Ohio healthcare providers, there are two, closely related answers to that question: the Ohio Health Information Partnership, and Ohio’s seven Regional Extension Centers. The Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP) The Ohio Health Informat ion Partnership (OHIP) is an independent, non-profit organization funded by a combination of state and federal grants. Founded on a public-private partnership of state organizations and recognized leaders in the healthcare industry, OHIP’s mission is to “advance the adoption, implementation and meaningful use of health IT among health care providers,” and to “create a Health Information Exchange (HIE) to facilitate and expand the secure, electronic movement and use of health information in accordance with nationally recognized standards.” OHIP’s Website (www.ohiponline. org) features a number of convenient resources, including terms and defini- tions, frequently asked questions, and online tutorials that will help physicians determine their Medicare/Medicaid eli- gibility, organize their technology-related priorities, and guide their discussions with potential EHR vendors. The site also features links to the secure portals through which eligible providers can register for incentive payments. There is even a monthly online newsletter, OHIPConnects, that contains the latest technology-related news, up-to-date educational opportunities, and insightful commentary by knowledgeable medical and HIT professionals discussing the issues and initiatives that are important to practicing clinicians. Ohio’s Regional Extension Centers (RECs) For healthcare professionals who qual- ify as “priority primary care providers” (PPCP), the OHIP Website also contains information related to a number of free support services accessible through the Ohio Regional Extension Center (REC) program, which was established in 2010. The term “priority primary care pro- vider” refers to Internal Medicine, Family MDNEWS.COM JULY-AUGUST 2011 MD NEWS Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 51 MAP COURTESY OF CLEVELAND CLINIC