MDNews - Central New York

COVER FEATURE HEALTHECONNECTIONS IS AN implementation agent for the Regional Extension Center (REC), which provides subsidized services to primary care physicians, including those who practice pediatrics and OB/GYN. Primary care providers, in many cases, can receive free or near-free services if they sign up for the program before available slots are fi lled. For a reasonable fee, specialty practices can receive the same services. HealtheConnections can: + Assist in determining the practice’s eligibility for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act incentives + Evaluate EHR requirements + Offer vendor selection and management services + Assist in identifying an information technology service vendor through a reduction in reimbursement if physicians are not “meaningfully using” an EHR. The Medicaid program pays $63,750 per provider over six years. “There is concern in the medical fi eld because physicians are working under a strict deadline to adopt EHRs, and there are numerous requirements that must be met,” says John Netti, Director of EHR Adoption Services at HealtheConnections. “One of our objectives is to help physicians + Help narrow down vendor options and assist in the vendor product demonstration process + Help practices select vendor of choice + Assist with EHR implementation + Work with practice to develop an implementation plan + Provide guidance in managing EHR implementation + Review and assess current workfl ow and provide redesign recommendations + Offer functional interoperability and health information exchange (HIE) services + Establish practice’s involvement in HealtheConnections regional health information organization + Provide privacy and security best practices services convert from a paper-based system to an electronic system in a seamless and effi cient manner. To help achieve this, we provide ample educational opportunities regarding meaningful use regulations and work with physicians on both adoption and optimization of existing systems.” In addition, HealtheConnections serves as an outreach and implementation agent for the Regional Extension Center, a pro- gram developed by the Offi ce of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology that of fers assistance to primary care providers. Services include assistance with contracting, project management, site preparation, and training and education regarding meaningful use. Through this role, HealtheConnections can ensure that the EHR system will best meet each physician’s individual needs based on his or her practice’s size, specialty and level of technical infrastructure. Looking to the Future As the health care industry surges ahead, there are increasing opportunities within the medical community to improve patient care, reduce costs and collaborate to connect disparate systems. 10 | Central New York MD NEWS  MDNEWS.COM Hack explains that HealtheConnections will have shared electronic health records across the entire continuum of care. “We will provide physicians with access to electronic health information chronicling patients’ lives from the time they are born to the time they move into nursing homes or utilize home health care,” he says. “We’re excited to be working with the clinical providers in the communities of our region to realize this goal.” “The health information Dr. David Duggan, President of the Onondaga County Medical Society exchange is an important step forward in improving health care in the Central New York community,” says David Duggan, M.D., President of the Onondaga County Medical Society. “Immediate electronic access to patient medical information is cru- cial in emergency situations to improve diagnoses and outcomes.” To learn more about HealtheConnections and the ways it can benefit your medical practice, visit www.healtheconnections.org. For HIE services, contact Karen Romano, Director of Operations, at (315) 671-2241, ext. 250. For EHR adoption services, contact John Netti, Director of EHR Adoption Services, at (315) 671-2241, ext. 240. n + Ensure the practice has a plan for HIPAA compliance + Conduct proper risk analysis to meet meaningful use + Offer meaningful use/clinical quality improvement services + Provide the practice an understanding of meaningful use and a roadmap to meet the measures + Ensure that vendor’s EHR implementation and training plan supports reaching meaningful use + Work with the practice post-go live to refi ne workfl ow in accordance with meeting meaningful use + Assist with documenting that the practice has reached meaningful use

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