Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/36081
Ohio’s Electronic Health Record ‘DECISION SUPPORT’ TOOLS Helping Physicians in Private Practice Make Their Best EHR Choice W HEN SELECTING AN electronic health record (EHR) system, a physi- cian in private practice’s top priority should be matching a specifi c system to the unique needs of a particular practice’s workfl ow. Getting this match right means aligning the features and functions of the EHR in a way that will produce the greatest positive impact on the ability of clinicians and staff to deliver quality care more effi ciently than was previously possible in a paper-based practice model. With the passage of the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act, which was itself part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that was signed into law in February of 2009, an entire range of issues related to “meaning- ful use” regulations, their associated reporting requirements, and potential financial incentives that are, in part, based on a physician’s “eligibility” status, joined the list of variables a privately practicing physician must include in the calculations leading up to an EHR choice. Briefl y stated, reimbursement funds are now available to Medicare- and Medicaid- eligible medical professionals, who demonstrate “meaningful use” through a Web-based, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) registration and attestation process. Three components of “meaningful use” contained in the ARRA require eligible healthcare professionals (EPs) to use an EHR that is certifi ed by an Offi ce of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) to: + Comply with “meaningful use” regula- tions which, during Phase One of the Executive Director, Jon Straffon (second row, center), and the MyPractice Community team have helped hundreds of area physicians make more informed EHR decisions. PHOTO COURTESY OF CLEVELAND CLINIC 50 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton MD NEWS MDNEWS.COM JULY-AUGUST 2011