This morning I had a chance to sit in on a conference hosted by Centricity, to discuss meaningful use as a criteria for selecting your next EMR or upgrading your present EMR.
Both physician providers represent fairly large user groups who already have implemented GE Centricity, an enterprise sized EMR solution.
The complete slide deck of the presentation will be available in the next several days.
Several of the presenters are physicians MDs. Med Star Health is a present user of their EMR solution. Peter Basch M.D., an internist and member of this large group reviewed the tenets of HITECH and its financial incentives for adopters, and penalties for non adopters. Groups in underserved areas will receive an additional 10% incentives. Additional funding will also come from Medi-caid, up to $60,000 per provider.
Dr Basch presents an excellent review of the M.U. development process. It seemed quite credible.
Meaningful use should be easily obtainable by present users. New users will find these criteria are reachable..
Stage 1: final rule metrics have been announced:
Latest edition provides:
Fewer, Lower Thresholds, and reduced reported burden.
Changes have been made to allow slower adoption and still obtain incentives.
Peter Basch M.D. presented their Med Star MU Roadmap
His pronouncements are clear and loud.
click on the image, and then use ctrl + or ctrl – to zoom in and out.
Meaningful use is a done deal, the law of the land. First step in how hospitals and providers will function and be reimbursed in the future.
Non-Medicare providers will find that other insurers are already adopting MU as criteria. and cannot be ignored.
A vital take-away is that you MUST be analytic and pre-qualify your intended EMR to be MU compatible and CERTIFIED. This is so important that empty promises from vendors are meaningless. (show me the beef!!)
Simeon Schwartz MD of Med West pointed out the one button coding click in their EMR from doctor to carrier, with no other human hand intervening. This generates efficiency and immediate ROI.
eRx adds major efficiency to ordering prescriptions and also in future ACO verification of patient receiving and using the medications prescribed.
My takeaway is:
BE IN A LARGE GROUP, JOIN A GROUP, INTEGRATE YOUR PRACTICE WITH ANOTHER PRACTICE.
IF YOU ARE SOLO……GOOD LUCK !!! START NOW, HIRE A CONSULTANT TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING, DO NOT BUY CHEAP, THIS IS ONLY GOING TO BECOME MORE BURDENSOME UNLESS THE SYSTEM YOU ACQUIRE IS ROBUST AND CAN DO THE MU THING….
This is the beginning of meaningful use, not the end. Do not implement minimalistic solutions.