In this issue:
IL-HITREC Progress

Exam to Identify Health Information Technology Experts

The Future of Healthcare

Spotlight on Robert Schmitt, CEO Gibson Area Hospital

Clinics Working to Fund EHRs in Rural Areas

Medscape Modules are Available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs

The Positive Impact of Technology in Health Care

To find out if you are qualified for IL-HITREC services, please take our brief
QUALIFICATION SURVEY

Contact Us
Want more information
on REC services?
Contact us today.
info@ILHITREC.org
Phone: 815-753-1136
Fax: 815-753-2460

August 2011Issue: 3

Greetings!

Welcome to the third issue of the IL-HITREC INTERCHANGE. This newsletter is your resource for news and information on the REC program in Illinois.


IL-HITREC Progress

IL-HITREC is nearing its sign-up goal of 1300 priority primary care providers in the State of Illinois!
Below are some National and Local provider sign-up statistics:

National Goal: 100,000 priority primary care providers
Current National Enrollment: 81,963 (82% of goal)
IL-HITREC Goal: 1300 priority primary care providers
Current IL-HITREC Enrollment: 1047 (81% of goal)

Over the next few months, IL-HITREC is expecting many enrolled practices to reach Milestone 2 or Go- Live of their EHR. Please see our article, "Milestone 2: Easy as 1,2,3!" in the July IL-HITREC Interchange for more information on how easy it can be to reach this milestone...


Exam to Identify Health Information Technology Experts

Highly-skilled health IT experts will be able to demonstrate their skill competencies through a series of examinations released by The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Read the full article.


The Future of Healthcare

Health Information Technology (HIT) will forever change the face of healthcare, according to a webinar presented by Roger Holloway on July 20, 2011. Following an overview of the Illinois Regional Extension Center, Holloway explained the federal vision of “meaningful use” as enabling significant and measurable improvements in population health through a transformed healthcare delivery system. Read the full article


Spotlight on Robert Schmitt, CEO Gibson Area Hospital

Rob Schmitt In this video, Rob Schmitt offers advice on adopting EHRs, the advantages of an EHR system, the benefits to physicians and reflects on some key aspects of EHR integration.






Clinics Working to Fund EHRs in Rural Areas

HILLSBORO – McFarlin Medical Clinic, with one doctor and 10 employees, can’t afford to convert from paper medical records to electronic versions. But the Hillsboro practice could benefit from an Illinois-based effort to change federal law and make millions of dollars in federal incentive payments available to rural health clinics. “We don’t have a lot of cash on hand to make a major investment like electronic medical records,” said Doris McFarlin, who manages the office of her husband, family medicine specialist Dr. Roger McFarlin. Some financial assistance, however, would make the conversion “a whole lot easier,” she said. Read the entire article…


Medscape Modules are Available on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs

CMS is pleased to announce that through Medscape Education, you now have the opportunity to achieve CME credits by learning more about the EHR Incentive Programs. On Medscape’s EHR Learning Center website, leading physician experts in medical informatics provide information, resources, and tools to help providers determine eligibility for the EHR Incentive Programs, understand the requirements for participating, take steps to participate, and recognize the immediate benefits of participation and future consequences of not participating. Read the entire article…


The Positive Impact of Technology in Health Care

In this video from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Dr. Farzad Mostashari (ONC), Dr. Donald Berwick and other health care professionals discuss how EHR technology may help reduce the cost of health care and improve health outcomes -- leading to a healthier future for all Americans.
www.youtube.com/user/HHSONC/