Patient Quality Improvements a Prerequisite to Obtain Federal EHR Stimulus Funds

The demand for patient quality improvements as a prerequisite to obtaining federal electronic health record stimulus funds is reportedly gaining momentum.

 

Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) have taken the lead in urging their fellow members of Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for demanding the same.

 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, signed into law by President Obama, authorized $34 billion in federal funds to reimburse healthcare providers who achieve “meaningful use” of “certified EHR technology.” Kennedy said that the regulations defining “meaningful use” and the criteria for “certified EHR technology” are critical for the improvement of patient care and quality.

 

At present, HHS is drafting regulations that establish the criteria for the EHR technology that will be eligible for the stimulus funds. EHR technology needs to be linked to improved patient care, quality, and efficiency in order to advance the quality of patient care in the United States. In addition, ARRA funds and other support for health care information technology should be focused on improving quality.

 

According to Rick Kneipper, co-founder and chief administrative officer of PHNS in Dallas, Congress has presented hospitals and physicians with an opportunity to acquire state-of-the-art EHR systems with the help of economic stimulus funds. Kneipper said that the issue is whether the funds will be used for technology that simply electronically documents transactions, or whether it will be used to take a giant leap forward in patient care.

 

Kneipper is the founder of the Coalition for Improving Patient Care through Information Technology. Kneipper is working with Kennedy and Johnson to urge their fellow colleagues and HHS to remain vigilant during the regulation writing process to ensure that Congress’ mandate to use EHR technology to advance patient care is met.

 

PHNS provides comprehensive information technology and business process services to hospitals, healthcare providers and other businesses across the United States. The IT services provided include application hosting, co-location and managed services; electronic off-site data back-up and data vaulting; business continuity solutions; disaster recovery services; and systems integration services.

 

The business process services of PHNS are focused primarily on hospitals and include health information management services (including medical record management and storage, transcription, coding, release of information and electronic medical record services) and revenue cycle services.