The Joint Commission’s 2011 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) for hospitals should be included in electronic health record certification and criteria for meaningful use, say authors of a commentary that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“Ideally, addressing the NPSGs should be incorporated into the EHR certification process, requiring each vendor to specifically engineer targeted solutions and each organization to carefully implement and use these systems to improve safety,” wrote Ryan P. Radecki, MD, and Dean D. Sittig, PhD, authors of a commentary that was published in JAMA on July 6.
To read the entire article, click here.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Medscape Modules Now Available on CMS EHR Incentive Programs
CMS is pleased to announce that through Medscape Education, providers now have the opportunity to earn CME credits by learning more about the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Programs.
On Medscape's EHR Learning Center website, leading physician experts in medical informatics provide information, resources, and tools to help providers determine eligibility for the EHR Incentive Programs, understand the requirements for participating, take steps to participate, and recognize the immediate benefits of participation and future consequences of not participating.
By completing the module “From Meaningful Use to Meaningful Care,” providers can earn CME credit while gaining a better understanding about the purpose of the EHR Incentive Programs, the stages of meaningful use, a timeline of key dates, and, most importantly, how patients will benefit.
Providers can also use the Medscape Learning Center to determine their comprehension of the EHR Incentive Programs by taking the “Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentives: What Do You Know and Do You Know Enough?” participant self-assessment. By completing the assessment, providers can help to shape the content of future CME activities to best address the educational and clinical performance gaps identified.
The site also offers interviews, in which physician EHR experts explain why it's important to register for the programs and the significance of EHRs to healthcare overall. Expert interviews include:
Registering for the EHR Incentive Program – Ready, Set, Go: An Expert Interview With Jason M Mitchell, MD, and Richard Paula, MD
Are You an Eligible Professional Who Hasn't Registered for the EHR Incentive Program? What Are You Waiting For? – An Expert Interview With William F Bria II, MD
In the next few weeks, new CME modules on meaningful use will also be made available; look out for a message to announce these new learning resources. Membership on Medscape is free, but you must register to view content; you do not have to be a health professional.
On Medscape's EHR Learning Center website, leading physician experts in medical informatics provide information, resources, and tools to help providers determine eligibility for the EHR Incentive Programs, understand the requirements for participating, take steps to participate, and recognize the immediate benefits of participation and future consequences of not participating.
By completing the module “From Meaningful Use to Meaningful Care,” providers can earn CME credit while gaining a better understanding about the purpose of the EHR Incentive Programs, the stages of meaningful use, a timeline of key dates, and, most importantly, how patients will benefit.
Providers can also use the Medscape Learning Center to determine their comprehension of the EHR Incentive Programs by taking the “Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentives: What Do You Know and Do You Know Enough?” participant self-assessment. By completing the assessment, providers can help to shape the content of future CME activities to best address the educational and clinical performance gaps identified.
The site also offers interviews, in which physician EHR experts explain why it's important to register for the programs and the significance of EHRs to healthcare overall. Expert interviews include:
Registering for the EHR Incentive Program – Ready, Set, Go: An Expert Interview With Jason M Mitchell, MD, and Richard Paula, MD
Are You an Eligible Professional Who Hasn't Registered for the EHR Incentive Program? What Are You Waiting For? – An Expert Interview With William F Bria II, MD
In the next few weeks, new CME modules on meaningful use will also be made available; look out for a message to announce these new learning resources. Membership on Medscape is free, but you must register to view content; you do not have to be a health professional.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Join the MUVment! Meaningful Use Vanguard Program
ONC has developed the Meaningful Use Vanguard EHR Champion Program and is asking for anyone interested to contact their REC partner.
MUVers (members of the MUV program) are champions of EHR adoption and meaningful use that serve as local leaders, advisors and role models in the move toward an electronically-enabled health care system.
MUVers are those that have made the transition to paperless systems, have had success using EHRs in patient care, experienced data exchange, are proficient in more advanced EHR applications and/or interested and willing to share experiences, help peers and educate patients on EHRs.
As a MUVer, you may be asked to share your experiences and best practices, provide case study material for education purposes, be a speaker or spokesperson as part of your REC’s efforts and provide feedback and counsel on topics, tools and materials such as identifying areas for education, evaluation EHR implementation and meaningful use tools, pilot test new EHR applications and advise on EHR gaps.
If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Tracy McDonald, HIT Program Coordinator.
MUVers (members of the MUV program) are champions of EHR adoption and meaningful use that serve as local leaders, advisors and role models in the move toward an electronically-enabled health care system.
MUVers are those that have made the transition to paperless systems, have had success using EHRs in patient care, experienced data exchange, are proficient in more advanced EHR applications and/or interested and willing to share experiences, help peers and educate patients on EHRs.
As a MUVer, you may be asked to share your experiences and best practices, provide case study material for education purposes, be a speaker or spokesperson as part of your REC’s efforts and provide feedback and counsel on topics, tools and materials such as identifying areas for education, evaluation EHR implementation and meaningful use tools, pilot test new EHR applications and advise on EHR gaps.
If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Tracy McDonald, HIT Program Coordinator.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
HRSA Health IT & Quality Webinar July 22nd
HRSA is offering a Health IT and Quality Webinar entitled "Tips For Generating Quality Data Reports Using Your EHR”, Friday, July 22, 12pm MDT.
For more information and to register, click here.
For more information and to register, click here.
Friday, June 24, 2011
CMS Has a New FAQ on Payment for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program
Question: I am an eligible professional (EP) who has successfully attested for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, so why haven't I received my incentive payment yet?
Answer: For EPs, incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will be made approximately four to eight weeks after an EP successfully attests that they have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology. However, EPs will not receive incentive payments within that timeframe if they have not yet met the threshold for allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the year.
The Medicare EHR incentive payments to EPs are based on 75% of the estimated allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the entire payment year. Therefore, to receive the maximum incentive payment of $18,000 for the first year of participation in 2011 or 2012, the EP must accumulate $24,000 in allowed charges. If the EP has not met the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges at the time of attestation, CMS will hold the incentive payment until the EP meets the $24,000 threshold in order to maximize the amount of the EHR incentive payment the EP receives. If the EP still has not met the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges by the end of calendar year, CMS expects to issue an incentive payment for the EP in March 2012 (allowing 60 days after the end of the 2011 calendar year for all pending claims to be processed).
Payments to Medicare EPs will be made to the taxpayer identification number (TIN) selected at the time of registration, through the same channels their claims payments are made. The form of payment (electronic funds transfer or check) will be the same as claims payments.
Bonus payments for EPs who practice predominantly in a geographic Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) will be made as separate lump-sum payments no later than 120 days after the end of the calendar year for which the EP was eligible for the bonus payment.
For more FAQ's, visit CMS' Frequently Asked Questions site.
Answer: For EPs, incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will be made approximately four to eight weeks after an EP successfully attests that they have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology. However, EPs will not receive incentive payments within that timeframe if they have not yet met the threshold for allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the year.
The Medicare EHR incentive payments to EPs are based on 75% of the estimated allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the entire payment year. Therefore, to receive the maximum incentive payment of $18,000 for the first year of participation in 2011 or 2012, the EP must accumulate $24,000 in allowed charges. If the EP has not met the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges at the time of attestation, CMS will hold the incentive payment until the EP meets the $24,000 threshold in order to maximize the amount of the EHR incentive payment the EP receives. If the EP still has not met the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges by the end of calendar year, CMS expects to issue an incentive payment for the EP in March 2012 (allowing 60 days after the end of the 2011 calendar year for all pending claims to be processed).
Payments to Medicare EPs will be made to the taxpayer identification number (TIN) selected at the time of registration, through the same channels their claims payments are made. The form of payment (electronic funds transfer or check) will be the same as claims payments.
Bonus payments for EPs who practice predominantly in a geographic Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) will be made as separate lump-sum payments no later than 120 days after the end of the calendar year for which the EP was eligible for the bonus payment.
For more FAQ's, visit CMS' Frequently Asked Questions site.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Accepting Nominations for Rural Health Excellence Award
CRHC is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Rural Health Excellence Award. This prestigious award is given annually by Colorado Rural Health Center to honor those who have made a notable contribution to health, healthcare, or a healthcare delivery system in rural Colorado. For 2011, the award will be presented during the 20th Annual Colorado Rural Health Conference August 11-12th, at the Denver Tech Center Hyatt Regency.
To be eligible for the award, a candidate must have made a significant contribution to the health, healthcare, or a healthcare delivery system in a rural Colorado community, area, or region. Healthcare providers, board members, administrators, volunteers and others are eligible for nomination. Despite their enormous contributions, CRHC Board Members are not eligible for nomination while serving on the Board.
To nominate someone, simply complete the entry form. The 2011 deadline for entries is July 15, 2011.
Questions? Contact Nadine Gressett.
To be eligible for the award, a candidate must have made a significant contribution to the health, healthcare, or a healthcare delivery system in a rural Colorado community, area, or region. Healthcare providers, board members, administrators, volunteers and others are eligible for nomination. Despite their enormous contributions, CRHC Board Members are not eligible for nomination while serving on the Board.
To nominate someone, simply complete the entry form. The 2011 deadline for entries is July 15, 2011.
Questions? Contact Nadine Gressett.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Health IT Workforce Development Opportunity
The U.S. Department of Labor has identified Health IT as a high growth and emerging industry sector. A recent study from the University of California San Diego Extension listed Health IT as the number one career opportunity in 2010. As the nation moves toward a more technologically advanced health care system, providers are going to need highly skilled health IT experts to support them in the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records.
Health IT professionals are in demand, and there is estimated to be a shortage of as many as 200,000 Health IT workers by 2015. This shortage is critical because it may impact organizations’ ability to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records and obtain the financial incentives promised. The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) is trying to address this shortage by funding Health IT Workforce Development programs for both Community Colleges and Universities. These programs are graduating high-caliber health information technology professionals interested in supporting the growing and evolving health IT industry.
One of the most important workforce shortage needs to address is providing Health IT education to rural and medically underserved communities. The University of Colorado Denver has received a grant from the ONC to provide graduate-level Health IT education to 132 healthcare professionals. This grant covers the tuition and fees up to $10,000, which covers most of the costs for the student. Rural and medically underserved communities are given first priority for this funding.
Our website (www.nursing.ucdenver.edu/HITEC) provide more information about the program. Applications are being accepted until July 10, 2011, for fall admission. Please forward this information to anyone in your organization that might be interested in this opportunity. These funds will only be available until the positions are filled, which we anticipate will be within the next 6 months. If you have questions about the program, please contact Donna DuLong, Colorado HITEC Program, at (303) 724-5515 or send an email to HITEC@ucdenver.edu.
Health IT professionals are in demand, and there is estimated to be a shortage of as many as 200,000 Health IT workers by 2015. This shortage is critical because it may impact organizations’ ability to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records and obtain the financial incentives promised. The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) is trying to address this shortage by funding Health IT Workforce Development programs for both Community Colleges and Universities. These programs are graduating high-caliber health information technology professionals interested in supporting the growing and evolving health IT industry.
One of the most important workforce shortage needs to address is providing Health IT education to rural and medically underserved communities. The University of Colorado Denver has received a grant from the ONC to provide graduate-level Health IT education to 132 healthcare professionals. This grant covers the tuition and fees up to $10,000, which covers most of the costs for the student. Rural and medically underserved communities are given first priority for this funding.
Our website (www.nursing.ucdenver.edu/HITEC) provide more information about the program. Applications are being accepted until July 10, 2011, for fall admission. Please forward this information to anyone in your organization that might be interested in this opportunity. These funds will only be available until the positions are filled, which we anticipate will be within the next 6 months. If you have questions about the program, please contact Donna DuLong, Colorado HITEC Program, at (303) 724-5515 or send an email to HITEC@ucdenver.edu.
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