EHR Resources

Free EHR Meaningful Use Webinar

The AOAMI as a member of the American EHR Partners is happy to offer a free webinar "Meaningful Use and Its Implications For Your Practice" as a benefit of that collaborative effort. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 at 7:00pm EDT.

The webinar will feature Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and Dr. Michael Zaroukian, FACP, Chief Medical Information Officer for Michigan State University. Dr. David Blumenthal directs the federal government's programs on health IT adoption including Meaningful Use.

This Webinar is specifically targeted to physicians and their practice staff and what they should focus upon in order to achieve Meaningful Use of an EHR.

Spread the word to friends and colleagues who may benefit from the federal government's incentive program for the meaningful use of an EHR. Through this incentive program, physicians can qualify for up to $44,000 in bonus payments from Medicare or $63,750 in bonus payments from Medicaid. Register by going to www.americanehr.com.

CMS Adopts AOAMI and AOA's HITECH EHR Recommendations

On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, Secretary Sebelius announced the release of the final rules on Meaningful Use criteria that determine eligibility for the HITECH EMR incentives program for physicians and hospitals. While the proposed rules from January originally required physicians to meet 25 requirements (23 for hospitals) in their use of EHRs, the final rules divides the requirements into a "core" group of 15 requirements that must be met, plus an additional "menu" of 10 procedures from which providers must choose 5. This "two track" approach ensures that the most basic elements of meaningful EHR use will be met by all providers qualifying for incentive payments, while at the same time allowing latitude in other areas to reflect providers' needs and their individual path to full EHR use.

"CMS received more than 2,000 comments on our proposed rule," said Marilyn Tavenner, Principal Deputy Administrator of CMS. "Many comments were from those who will be most immediately affected by EHR technology ? health care providers and patients. We carefully considered every comment and the final meaningful use rules incorporate changes that are designed to make the requirements achievable while meeting the goals of the HITECH Act." We are pleased to report that many of the changes suggested by the AOAMI and AOA were considered, addressed, and indeed adopted. Download the tables outlining the final meaningful use criteria (MS Word).

Government Agency Offers Health IT Resources and Funding

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has an online resource center that physicians can use to research current projects, find funding opportunities, and download toolkits for evaluating and implementing health IT in their practices. They also provide a list of links that physicians can use to find funding from additional federal agencies and private foundations.

AOAMI Elects New Board

AOAMI Member Meets with President Bush
To Discuss EMRs

Embracing new technology
The AOA recognizes the new American Osteopathic Academy of Medical Informatics. Goetz. (PDF format 90K/4pgs)

PDA planet
DOs and students are becoming increasingly dependent on handheld computers. Goetz. (PDF for