Temporary EHR Certification Program and List
A surgeon can’t operate without the proper equipment. A clinician can’t achieve meaningful use of electronic health records without an EHR that is designed to improve patient care and practice efficiency.
The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services announces today a big step in ensuring that clinicians can easily identify EHRs and EHR modules that have the capabilities needed to achieve meaningful use and thereby reap the financial incentives offered by Medicare and Medicaid. The temporary certification program lays out a path by which organizations can become authorized to test and certify EHR products. Certification can give physicians confidence that the EHR product they choose has the capabilities to help their practices achieve meaningful use.
However, it does not mean that choosing an EHR will be a simple decision, or that certification of an EHR guarantees the provider using it will accomplish meaningful use. Certification is another example of how ONC supports the nation’s clinicians in the move towards a fully functional, secure health information exchange system. Combined with the technical advice and support of Regional Extension Centers, certification helps level the playing field and enables practices large and small to make educated choices that will lead to meaningful use.
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With the 21% cut in medicare fees, lack of funding of electronic medical records for ALL physicians, 20-30 % medicare or medicaid, or not, inappropriate audits of physicians with the assertation you are guilt of fraud unless you documented the lack of the negative finding, why should any physician be inclined to implement these systems? Especially as motivated independent groups previously unfunded remain ignored, those already funded get more, and the common language and definitions remain lacking making the physician the default common denominator to make propriatery systems work, without paying for the trouble. It’s no longer worth while and until those in power start listening, we remain unlikely to succeed. Sincerely, a previously hopeful, now doubtful believer in t implementation of our information systems…please start paying attention and listening. Andrea harangozo, m.d.
As mentioned in the post, I believe EHR adoption must be driven by effectiveness and efficiency first and meaningful use incentives second. However, there are significant issues that arise beyond certification. Information security associated with EHR deployments is one of my chief concerns. These are complex systems that are generally fairly customized in actual deployments. What this means is that the application security problems presented are tough. This does not mean that the burden falls on physicians. What is required is that the EHR vendors need to adequately invest in application security and the provider organizations that customize the EHR technology to fit their workflow invest in application security to eliminate issues that may result.
However, there are significant issues that arise beyond certification. Information security associated with EHR deployments is one of my chief concerns. These are complex systems that are generally fairly customized in actual deployments. What this means is that the application security problems presented are tough. This does not mean that the burden falls on physicians. What is required is that the EHR vendors need to adequately invest in application security and the provider organizations that customize the EHR technology to fit their workflow invest in application security to eliminate issues that may result.
The capabilities of EHR systems and the extent to which they are integrated into provider practices also vary. “Fully functional” EHR systems collect and store patient data, supply patient data to providers on request, permit physicians to enter patient care orders, and assist providers in making evidence-based clinical decisions.
These are complex systems that are generally fairly customized in actual deployments. What this means is that the application security problems presented are tough.
Choice and implementation of an EHR for any medical practice is a Herculean task. Cost and competing values relative to the return on investment will continue to drive a wedge between what is necessary and what may be easily acheivable.
Without distracting this forum with amazing jazz about the need for this tool, I will say that one strategy will be for practices to align themselves with a Healthcare IT company that partners with the practice so that the objective of providing patient care remains in the forefront of the implementation objective. I am honored that I am one of the lucky folks as I work for such a company and we never lose sight of this fact.
There are ways to protect EHR security and they are out there and palpable if you choose to partner with an honest and progressive Healthcare IT partner.
Certification certainly helps when it comes to levelling the playing field for small practices… allowing them to be able to make the educated choices that are necessary and with the competence to do so safely.
James Hargrove M.D.
For my kid’s physical exam, when my kid’s doc came into the room w his laptop, and then could access anything important while doing a routine exam — that was impressive! His ability to recognize patterns, and significant issues were only enhanced having that access to patient history.
The NIST health IT test has 3 sections. 170.302,170.304,and 170.306. Does the sections have any significance.
thanks
This technology is a way to improve the quality of care provided to their patients, but health information security is vital and
I do not think this issue has been addressed 100%.