The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has presented hospitals and physicians with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire state-of-the-art Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems with the help of economic stimulus funds. The ARRA, signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, earmarks more than $30 billion in funds to partially reimburse healthcare providers for their investment. The goal of Congress is to:
- create a nationwide health IT infrastructure
- improve healthcare quality
- reduce medical errors
- reduce health disparities
- advance the delivery of patient-centered medical care.
However, this goal is at risk if the stimulus funds are used to continue adopting current IT systems that do little or nothing to advance patient care and patient quality. Today’s IT healthcare systems primarily focus on electronic documentation of patient transactions, and are not designed to help physicians, nurses, clinicians and hospitals provide better patient care services or to improve the quality of patient care.
The key to achieving this goal rests with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and specifically with the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Over the next weeks and months, regulators will draft language, with input from the public, which defines “meaningful use” and the criteria for “certified EHR technology.”
The Coalition for Improving Patient Care through Information Technology (CIPCIT) is dedicated to transforming patient care with advanced information technology that will deliver 21st century patient care. The following articles, presentations, studies and reports from the most prestigious, respected intuitions and individuals in the country are addressing their concerns and recommendations to advance patient care through EHRs and EMRs.