The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has accredited the first five HIT certifying bodies for the Permanent Certification Program, set to begin this summer. The Permanent Certification Program is a defined process to ensure that electronic health records meet certain standards to ensure that eligible hospitals and providers will be able to meet meaningful use requirements.

The five certifying bodies accredited by ANSI include the following:

• Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)
• Drummond Group, Inc.
• ICSA Laboratories, Inc.
• InfoGard Laboratories, Inc.
• Orion Register, Inc.

"Accreditation by ANSI creates a valuable distinction for these five certification bodies," said Lane Hallenbeck, ANSI VP of accreditation services. "The ONC program helps to instill confidence in EHR technology among health IT developers, health professionals and hospitals, and the general public."

These certifying bodies will certify both complete EHRs and EHR modules. The new certification program will "enhance the certification process for health information technology in the United States by improving comprehensiveness, transparency, reliability, and efficiency," ANSI reported.

ChartLogic was the first EHR in the nation to certify for meaningful use (the company was certified by the Drummond Group), and continues to lead the market as the industry adjusts and changes.

ANSI was selected by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) in June 2011 to accredit certifying bodies for the Permanent Certification Program. Click here for more information.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

Officials have said that the final rule would be available by the end of the summer, but OMB typically takes several weeks to many months to complete its reviews, making a fall release of the final rule a possibility.

The final rule on EHR certification criteria was not submitted at this time, which explains exactly what an EHR must be capable of in order to be certified. The rule submitted by CMS contains the proposed requirements for eligible hospitals and providers who wish to qualify for meaningful use incentives. To prove their eligibility through Medicare's program, providers have to demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology; Medicaid participants, on the other hand, are simply required to purchase or upgrade to a certified electronic health record system.

The proposed rule was released in February. During the three-month commenting period, physicians, physician organizations, and EHR vendors submitted their suggestions, varying from the wish for more stringent to much more simplified requirements. The most hotly debated topics include the patient engagement requirement, which requires 10 percent of an EP's patients to view and download their electronic records, and the extent to which HIPAA privacy rules would be emphasized for meaningful use. Stage 2 will be more difficult than stage 1, and many commenters debated over how much more difficult stage 2 should be before it becomes too much for most providers to handle.

Stage 2 will begin in 2014 for those who attested last year.

Source: Gov Info Security

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

Of the participants, 55 percent were using an EHR, a slightly higher percentage than previous similar surveys. Eighty-five percent of those doctors stated they were either "somewhat" (47 percent) or "very"(38 percent) satisfied with their EHR, and about 75 percent said that EHRs helped improve patient care.

Of the participants who had not yet adopted an EHR, over half plan to do so within the next year. Increased acceptance of EHRs and the government meaningful use program have both help spur EHR adoption over the past few years.

The survey also found that physician age and office size had an effect on the likelihood that an EHR was implemented. Typically, physicians under the age of 50 are more likely to have an EHR, as are the practices with 10 physicians or more. However, EHR adoption among one- to two-provider practices has seen the most growth during 2012, due largely to the convenience of SaaS-based (cloud) solutions like ChartLogic 8.

This survey is part of a three-year effort (continuing through 2013) to analyze perceptions and practices of electronic health record systems. See Medical Xpress for more information.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

The study was drawn from a 16-month clinical trial that involved 4,500 patients across eight primary care practices. Patients were randomly selected to be a part of the control group that provided patients with an interactive PHR tool, which would generate patient-specific preventive services reminders from the patient's electronic health record (EHR) and also provided patients with educational materials.

Researchers found that of the control group (those who used the PHR tool) 25 percent were up to date with their preventive services, whereas at the beginning of the study only 11 percent were up to date.

Of the remainder of the study's participants, those who did not utilize a PHR, less than 13 percent were up to date on their preventive care by the end of the study.

Patient engagement is an important part of health reform, and health information technology is an excellent medium to encourage patients to take more initiative over their care. Nonetheless, PHR adoption is still low, but many practices have found success with a patient portal. Patient portals are offered through EHR solutions like ChartLogic, which allows patients to pre-register before entering the clinic and helps the practice qualify for meaningful use. Patient engagement will probably have a more prominent role in stage 2 requirements.

See iHealthBeat for more information.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

Of course, hospitals do what they can to avoid readmissions and increased length of stay, but faulty communication is still at the root of many problems. "Hospitals have good intentions but need a better process [for] communications flow," said Liz Reinking, a center representative for the Joint Commissions.

About 80 percent of major errors occur during hand-offs, but EHRs can help address those communication barriers and ensure providers are all on the same "page." EHRs offer many other benefits for hospitals and medical offices as well, such as paper reduction, increased office space, and a more efficient workflow, giving providers more time with their patients.

Stage 2 meaningful use puts more emphasis on EHR communication tools. Interoperability is one of the biggest differentiators between stages 1 and 2 (some interoperability capabilities are required for stage 1, but stage 2 aims to put providers on the path toward true interoperability). Other government initiatives, like the Direct Project, were also designed to help improve communication and information sharing between providers. Health IT isn't the magic fix to all healthcare problems, but it does provide the tools needed to improve communication and reduce medical errors.

See Fierce EMR for more information.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

"Substantial evidence exists confirming that health IT applications with patient-centered care-related components have a positive effect on health care outcomes," the researchers wrote in their report, which was published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

These studies looked at how health IT helped improve outcomes for patients with a variety of health conditions, particularly diabetes, heart disease, depression, and cancer. Further, Johns Hopkins researchers reviewed specific health IT tools, such as clinical decision support (included in most electronic health record systems), telemedicine, and shared decision-making tools.

In most cases, health IT improved patient care when it was used in conjunction with patient-centered goals. In other words, the technology by itself doesn't necessarily improve care, but it is a key part in a doctor's plan to improve patient care. "It's not just about plugging in the technology. Plugging in is the first of many steps," said MaryAnne Sterling, a health IT consultant from Washington.

Health IT tools like EHRs tout many benefits, but their impact on patients often gets overlooked. However, according to this comprehensive review conducted by Johns Hopkins, these tools are crucial to improving patient care because they help keep doctors and patients connected and records are more readily available to those who need to access them.

See American Medical News for more information.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

If all goes as planned, the workgroup would open commenting to the industry by November and final recommendations would be finished by May 2013. Stage 3 requirements wouldn't be enforced until 2015 at the earliest, and even then it would only be for the earliest meaningful users, so physicians, hospitals, and EHR vendors would have plenty of time to prepare for the new requirements.

Most physicians plan to adopt electronic health records soon, if they haven't already, and meaningful use incentives provide much-needed help to offset the cost of implementing or upgrading EHR software.

According to iHealthBeat, the MU3 draft could include recommendations that EHR systems have the ability to

• Receive and review patient immunization data from a public health registry,
• Receive clinical decision support on recommended immunizations based on a patient's history, and
• Electronically send reports on healthcare-associated infections and vaccine-related adverse events to appropriate public health agencies.

Other recommendations would touch on the physician's role in using certified EHR technology, such as to track individual healthcare goals, enable input and review from all parties (doctors, patients, etc.), and facilitate reconciliation of medications, problem lists, and care plans.

See iHealthBeat for more information on what could appear in the initial draft for meaningful use stage 3.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

The study looked at physician reviews of 411 portal images, which verify a patient's positioning for imaging treatments such as X-rays. About half the images were conducted through an EHR, and the other half were conducted manually, such as with film or printouts. Of the images reviewed via EHR, only 1 percent of the images incurred compliance violations, whereas images viewed manually incurred compliance violations 25 percent of the time.

"The only violation incurred with checking portal images on the EMR was having images checked after more than one business day," the researchers wrote. A big bonus of reviewing images through the EHR was that physicians were able to view images remotely, which allowed physicians to review images more quickly. "One of the potential problems of checking portal images on radiographic film is it was possible for radiographic films to be placed in the wrong location . . . hampering the timely review by an attending physicians," authors stated.

Because image review compliance was so much higher with EHRs, researchers concluded that reviewing images via an EHR should be standard care. EHRs can help improve care in other areas as well, such as streamlining processes that take much longer to do no paper.

For more information on the study, see Fierce EMR.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

"This amendment, introduced and sponsored by members of both major parties, would correct an oversight that excludes major components of the U.S. healthcare system from critical funding that would help them better serve the nearly 25% of the U.S. population that is afflicted with a mental illness," said Kevin Scalia, Netsmart executive VP of corporate development. Netsmart is a provider of clinical solutions for health and human services organizations.

"Our clients are being asked to become more efficient and tightly integrated with the rest of healthcare. All parties agree that technology is fundamental to making that happen," Scalia said. "Congress made this point with the original HITECH Act by providing incentives for the implementation of integrated health records, and now these leaders in Congress have said that the same needs to be true for behavioral health."

Currently, the term "eligible professional" refers to physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, PAs, and certified nurse-midwives. The bill proposed by the House would expand the definition of eligible professional to include psychologists, social workers, and others in the behavioral health field. EPs can qualify for up to $64,000 through Medicaid and $44,000 through Medicare for demonstrating meaningful use of certified EHR technology. To date, over $5.5 billion has been paid to EPs who successfully attested to the program, including hundreds of ChartLogic users.

Electronic health records improve documentation of patient records and increase efficiency throughout medical offices. To learn more, visit www.chartlogic.com.

For more on the proposed meaningful use eligibility bill, see PR Newswire.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

The ACA doesn't include the HITECH Act (this act was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed in 2009), so the ruling doesn't directly affect major government programs like meaningful use. However, most CIOs agree that the ruling will have positive effects on EHR adoption and health IT progression nonetheless.

"Health IT will only become more prominent as a result of this direction," said Stephen Stewart, CIO of Iowa-based Henry County Health Center, in an interview with Fierce Health IT. "Reform cannot be done without the prerequisite technology. Reform has to happen; it's just a matter of what it looks like. Long term, it bodes well for health IT."

John Halamka, CIO of Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, also believes the ruling will help technology like electronic health records spread even further. Reform requires health IT to achieve success, he said, and widespread adoption of EHRs and decision support tools are key pieces to overall reform efforts.

"Now that the uncertainty around ACA has been settled, it is critical that we continue the momentum to transform healthcare, including the use of information technology," said Dave Roberts, VP of government relations for HIMSS. Over half of office-based physicians are using an EHR currently, but for reform to succeed every patient needs to have an electronic health record.

For more on CIO insights on the ruling's effect on health IT, see Fierce Health IT.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

Health IT already plays several roles in healthcare reform, such as reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and improving patient care. Healthcare spending accounts for almost 20 percent of the gross domestic product, but EHRs can limit spending by cutting back on the costs of paper and helping providers better monitor patient care. Tools such as clinical decision support and ePrescribe reduce medical errors. In addition, practice management software dramatically improves billing efficiency and A/R.

Probably the biggest benefit of EHRs is the availability of information electronically. Patients that have an electronic health record won't have to carry their paper records around with them whenever they see a new doctor that is unfamiliar with their history. Communication between providers and patients is also improved with tools like electronic messaging and patient portals.

To encourage adoption of EHRs, the government has set aside over $20 billion in incentive funds for doctors who upgrade to or implement a certified EHR like ChartLogic. Visit www.chartlogic.com for more information.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

In total there were 51 malpractice claims, 49 of which were reported before physicians had adopted an EHR system. Only two claims were filed after physicians switched to EHR.

The study has some limitations, such as the small sample size and other factors that may have contributed to the decrease in malpractice claims, but the findings present some evidence that EHRs help reduce malpractice claims, rather than increase them as some have feared in the past. Researchers estimated that malpractice claims were 84 percent less likely to occur when the practice utilized an EHR.

Fierce Health IT notes that "electronic records might help solve problems such as poor communication among providers, delays in getting patient information, unsafe prescribing practices, and poor adherence to clinical guidelines. In addition, the documentation provided in EHRs can improve the chances of a successful defense."

Researchers concluded that "the reduction in claims seen in this study among physicians who adopted EHRs lends support to the push for widespread implementation of health information technology." Government programs like meaningful use are incentivizing physicians to make the switch, and many physicians are adopting health IT simply because the benefits of doing so are becoming more evident.

Click here for more information on the study.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

Specific findings of the report include the following:

• 95 percent of physicians who reported using an EHR began using one between 2001 and 2011.
• 22 percent of physicians in this survey who are using an EHR adopted the EHR in 2011, which is the same year the government began distributing incentives for providers who demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology.
• 90 percent of those who used an EHR during 2011 used the system to document E/M services.

Although most EHRs can automatically perform E/M functions, many physicians in this survey reported E/M codes manually. ChartLogic's E/M Consultant aids physicians in properly upcoding encounters. Practices that integrate this technology into their workflow will not have to second-guess whether they included enough exam elements to justify a level 4 visit -- ChartLogic ensures that documentation encounters meet current standards.

The report also found that of those who reported using an EHR in 2011, 73 percent were using a certified EHR like ChartLogic.

For more information on the report, see iHealthBeat.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

In his new position, Adams is responsible for integrating the product development and sales and marketing functions, as well as developing new market opportunities.

Prior to joining ChartLogic, Adams served as a director of business development for Microsoft's X-Box Games Studio. In his new role at ChartLogic, Adams will also be involved in exploring "gamification" methodology introductions across the functional areas of product, sales and marketing. Increasingly, clients are demanding EHR training that allows physicians and staff to adopt the system without disrupting existing practice work levels. Many technology companies have found that incorporating game-like rewards for user proficiency facilitates individual learning, product adoption and end market penetration.

Adams served in senior marketing positions at several multi-national corporations before starting his own consulting firm in 2008. His past positions include director of global marketing for Burton Snowboards, senior vice-president and chief operating officer for Bandcrashers and Echololoops, as well as consulting for Cannondale, GT, Schwinn, Mongoose, and DC Shoes.

"We are pleased to have Brenner on our senior executive team," said Zubin Emsley, CEO, ChartLogic. "His expertise in leading marketing initiatives on a global scale will assist ChartLogic to enter new markets, better service existing customers, and adapt to the changing healthcare IT marketplace."

Adams received his MBA from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah and holds a BS in Economics and International Marketing from the University of Utah. He lives in the Salt Lake City area with his wife and three children. Adams also speaks fluent French.

Contact: Eric Sorenson ericsorenson@chartlogic.com VP, Marketing O: 801-365-1815

Jana Williams Westside Public Relations O: 310-428-0347

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

The EHR market is advancing rapidly as doctors adopt electronic health records to help contain costs and improve the quality of healthcare. "EMRs are poised to improve patient care, reduce healthcare expenses and fundamentally change the way in which medicine is practiced," said Technical Insights senior research analyst Darshana De. EHR use is spreading throughout the entire world, not just the US. "Government incentives are expected to increase the effective implementation of health IT adoption; the most significant drivers include the United States' American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and Australia's $450 million e-health effort."

Cloud-based EHR solutions show a lot of promise for practices wishing to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Physicians would be able to access records from a smartphone or tablet device they already own, and they wouldn't have to purchase new hardware for the machines in the office.

ChartLogic 8 is the first voice-driven, cloud-based EHR on the market. Physicians can chart notes and check records using whatever device they choose, from wherever they are at. See http://www.chartlogic.com/ for more information.

Source: Healthcare IT News.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Just over half of the nation's healthcare providers are using some form of an EHR (electronic health record). The widespread use of this technology is helping "officials faced with events of public significance to know sooner, act faster and manage better," said Dr. Seth Foldy, senior adviser to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An article in the New York Times provides several examples of how electronic information has helped officials stop the spread of epidemics. In Michigan, electronic reports helped officials to conclude that an E. coli outbreak was linked to clover sprouts at Jimmy John's sandwich chain. Officials were able to act quickly to end the outbreak. In Massachusetts, electronic data are being used to prevent hepatitis infections, giving special attention to women ages 14 to 44. Health officials are using EHR data in clever and unique ways to prevent problems in whatever ways they can.

"We can identify and monitor trends in high-priority diseases and health problems by geography and groups," said Dr. Amanda Parsons, deputy commissioner at New York's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. "We can tell where things are improving or getting worse."

Meaningful use was also designed, in part, to monitor these types of health issues and prevent them when possible.

Click here to view the full New York Times article.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

"Meeting this goal so early in the year is a testament to the commitment of everyone who has worked hard to meet the challenges of integrating EHRs and health information technology into clinical practice," said Marilyn Tavenner, acting administrator for CMS. "Not only have state Medicaid programs, public health departments, and many other stakeholders given their support to the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, but numerous health professionals and hospitals have recognized the potential of EHRs to provide better patient care, cut down on paperwork, and eliminate duplicate screenings and tests."

As of the end of May, over 110,000 eligible professionals (EPs) and over 2,400 eligible hospitals had received an incentive payment from either Medicare or Medicaid. This means that roughly one out of every five Medicare- and Medicaid-eligible physicians have been paid for adopting, implementing, upgrading, or meaningfully using an EHR. Over $5.7 billion in payments have been distributed.

ChartLogic users were among the first in the nation to be paid for meaningful use. Currently, over 300 ChartLogic users have qualified for an incentive payment. Physicians who begin meaningful use this year will still be able to qualify for the full $44,000 in Medicare reimbursements, but they must begin immediately to ensure their practice is ready to begin reporting by October.

"The EHR Incentive Programs have really helped jump-start the use of electronic health records by health care providers all across the country," said Mostashari.

Click here for more information.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

ONC has studied the security of mobile devices on the market, and found that iPhones and Blackberries meet the most security requirements. However, more needs to be done to ensure patients' records are kept safe. "You have to make sure that the devices are able to apply the appropriate security controls to make sure that the patient records are protected," said Will Phelps, an IT security specialist in ONC's Office of the Chief Privacy Officer. "We want to reach out to the provider community to make sure they are able to do these things."

The mobile security guide will initially be geared toward small to mid-size practices. "They may not have an IT staff or third-party vendor to manage their devices for them," Phelps said. "We want to get them to a point where their devices are operating as securely as possible." Most devices have out-of-the-box security configurations available, but they must still be manually configured.

Encryption of data is also a meaningful use requirement; therefore, physicians who want to access their EHR via mobile device must ensure that data is encrypted. Phones are very easy to lose, so protecting the information stored on the phone is of utmost importance.

ChartLogic's newest product, version 8, is entirely cloud based, allowing doctors to easily manage patient records from anywhere, using any device. See www.chartlogic.com for more information.

Source: Government Health IT.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.

HIPPA 50110. Medical offices switched to 5010 transaction sets at the beginning of this year, but the compliance deadline was pushed back until June 30, 2012. There is no sign that the compliance date will be pushed back again. Offices should be used to coding using the new standards by now.

Meaningful use. Doctors who want to try for the full $44,000 in stimulus money for demonstrating meaningful use of certified EHR technology will need to begin their 90-reporting period no later than October 2012. However, it usually takes a few months for a practice to prepare for meaningful use, and even longer if they are still implementing EHR. Doctors who wait past June to prepare for meaningful use may not be ready to start their reporting in time and will miss out on the maximum incentive amount.

For more information about HIT deadlines, visit www.chartlogic.com.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Most physicians are on board with e-prescribing already; for some clinics, e-prescribing was adopted even before electronic medical records (EMR) technology. The eRx incentive/penalty program (as well as the EHR meaningful use incentive program) is the government's latest effort to push eRx adoption throughout the country.

The e-prescribing toolset is divided into 11 chapters, which provide guidance on topics from selecting the right system to determining whether the system is meeting the clinic's needs.

The toolset also contains several tools to aid physicians in the eRx implementation process. Some of the tools include the goals worksheet, which will help clinics plan out each step of the implementation process; the sample workflow diagrams, which will help establish the clinic's unique e-prescribing workflow; the e-prescribing vendor assessment tool, which aids the implementation team in selecting the right vendor; and the timeline for EHR transition.

Tools are even included for patients, such as the flyer announcing the clinic's launch of e-prescribing software and a "prescription pad" handout for patients that serves as both a reminder to pick up prescriptions and a quick overview of how the electronic prescription system works.

To review the tools in more detail or to access the toolset, click here.

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About ChartLogic, Inc.

Electronic health records . . . better patient care since 1994. ChartLogic has helped thousands of practices make the transition from paper to digital medical offices. Guaranteed to meet meaningful use requirements, ChartLogic offers two comprehensive electronic health record suites that include electronic medical records, superior medical billing software, document management, and interactive patient education. ChartLogic helps physicians provide better patient care through better technology. For further information, visit www.chartlogic.com.