EHR, health care takeaways from Hurricane Sandy
-- November 13, 2012
The election is behind us and life returns to some semblance of normalcy. However, for some, “normal” operations are anything but that thanks to Super Storm Sandy and the lasting effects it is having on the shores of New York and New Jersey. I received many notes from colleagues and friends who have been impacted professionally and personally by the storm.

Decisions doctors must make to avoid Medicare penalties
-- November 12, 2012
2013 will be a crucial year for physicians to avoid possible pay reductions under quality reporting and health information technology programs. A physician’s decision not to report Medicare quality measures or participate in paperless prescribing and health record programs in 2013 will be a costly one in the long run.

5 health IT insiders offer their takes on EHR usability
-- July 17, 2012
EHR usability is suddenly front and center, now that usability testing is part of the EHR certification criteria for meaningful use Stage 2. We talked with diverse industry insiders for their take on what is critical to user-centric design and what the usability factors might mean to healthcare and to the healthcare IT market. Here is a sampling of some of the topics on their minds.

EMR Adoption - Why are Some Physicians Reluctant?
-- July 12, 2012,
With the introduction of Cloud technology in the healthcare industry, several EMR vendors are consistently trying to come up with even more advanced and innovative EMR solutions. After all, who wouldn’t want to capture the market share? Also, given the government’s support in terms of financial incentives, there seems to be an augmenting interest amongst providers to adopt electronic medical records. According to a CDC report, the overall EMR adoption has reached 55% within the country.

Avoiding Costly EHR Mistakes
-- July 11, 2012
Today, electronic health record (EHR) systems play an increasingly important role in improving providers’ administrative operations and streamlining the delivery of patient services. However, far too many providers are dissatisfied with their EHR vendors, judging from a recent KLAS research survey. In a recent report, KLAS found that 50 percent of 300 physician groups that have purchased EHR systems are now looking for replacement systems – up from 30 percent in 2011.

Arkansas Optometric clinics receive $72,000 in Meaningful Use Incentives
-- January 13, 2012

Watch for 2013 Events.

Delays Force Feds To Propose EHR Reporting Changes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it plans to allow eligible professionals to attest in 2012 that they have used their electronic health records to collect data on clinical quality measures as part of the CMS criteria for "Meaningful Use" of EHRs.

If your an eligible professional (EP) who has successfully attested for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program, and haven't received your incentive payment yet, you may want to read this from the CMS FAQ section of their website?

CMS to start meaningful use incentive payments in May 2011
-- WASHINGTON – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will begin to make meaningful use incentive payments to eligible physicians and hospitals as early as May 2011, according to a senior CMS official, who detailed steps the agency is taking to start up the incentive program.

Hearing on Meaningful Use of Health IT: Charles Jarvis Opening Statement
-- Watch a video of Charlie Jarvis delivering a testimony on behalf of the EHRA to the U.S. House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.

U.S. standards set for electronic medical records
-- (Reuters) - Doctors and hospitals will have to digitize medical records and meet certain criteria to secure a slice of an estimated $27 billion in government incentives to modernize medical files, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday.

Finding My Way to Electronic Health Records
-- July 13, 2010 -- Regina Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A.
The New England Journal of Medicine