• New England Journal of Medicine Study Shows Benefits of EHRs
  
  Yesterday the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a study, which looks at care delivered to diabetic patients in physician practices that use electronic health records compared to physician practices that do not. The results should not come as a surprise to those of us who are working to speed the adoption and meaningful use of health IT: Practices that use EHRs -- especially in conjunction with collaborative efforts to improve quality -- delivered measurably better care than practices which rely on paper records.
  
  The Office of the National Coordinator's Buzz Blog features a blog by the study's lead author, Dr. Randall Cebul, which summarizes its findings. I am also attaching materials that highlight the connection between the study's findings and your ongoing work to leverage the meaningful use of health IT to improve health quality and outcomes.
  
  Health IT is helping to transform the way care is delivered in this nation. Yesterday's NEJM article should serve as encouragement that we are on the right track, and the results are well worth the effort.
  
  Farzad Mostashari, MD
  National Coordinator for Health IT
  
  * NEJM Graphs.ppt
  * NEJM Cebul Diabetes Study Highlights-632.pdf

 

• National Provider Call on Physician Quality Reporting System & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program Tuesday, June 21, 2011 1:30-3pm ET
  
  CMS will host a national provider call on the Physician Quality Reporting System & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program. Subject matter experts will provide an overview of the proposed rule (CMS-3248-P, released on Thursday, May 26, 2011), which addresses the proposed changes to the Medicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program; a question and answer session will follow the presentation. The target audience for this call includes medical coders, physician office staff, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, and all Medicare fee-for-service providers.
  
  In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. Registration will close at 1:30pm on Monday, June 20, 2011 or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early. For more details, including instructions on registering for the call, please visit http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI/04_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp.

 

• Dear REC affiliate members,
  I wanted to share with you an opportunity to hear HIMSS EVP Carla Smith facilitate a radio program, Visualizing the 21st Century of Healthcare Today, on the Federal News Radio station. Tune in via Live Stream on Federal News Radio Tuesday, May 17 @ 10 AM ET / 9 AM CDT. You can do this by clicking the “Listen Now” button on the homepage of Federal News Radio.  The nationally-recognized panel of expert speakers includes our own Chair-Elect of the HIMSS Board of Directors – Charlene Underwood. By addressing the following topics, we hope to educate federal employees on the value and opportunity awaiting them at the Government Health IT Conference & Exhibition, June 14-15. Topics include the strategic value of health IT to the United States, barriers faced in achieving interoperable health systems, inter-federal-agency initiatives in healthcare IT, diversity initiatives to ensure that no community is left behind, and examples of how the best use of IT is being harnessed in healthcare settings.  Geared towards the needs of tens of thousands of federal employees and federal contractors, Federal News Radio is the world’s first all-news, internet-only radio station.  Many thanks to our outstanding speakers and the small army of HIMSS staff members who made this opportunity possible!
  
  If you miss the live recording, the discussion will be available to download starting at 11am on Tuesday, May 17th at: http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?sid=2372755&nid=479

 

• National Provider Call on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs: Understanding Meaningful Use - Thursday, May 19, 2:30-3:45 pm EDT Register Now
• National Health IT Coordinator Mostashari Outlines Challenges  Read More
• New YouTube Videos: Dr. Berwick Videos Discussing EHRs:
  • View Video
  • View Video 2
  • View Video 3
• Region 6 Would Like to Invite You to Our EHR Webinar Read More
• Jan. 13, 2011 - NTREC endorsed by Southwest Physician Associates Read More
• On-Line Enrollment is up and running! Click on Enrollment tab above.
• Jan. 3, 2011 - Electronic health records incentives registration begins Read More
• Blumenthal highlights IT advances for 2010 Read More
• Meaningful Use: Say it like you mean IT Read More
• AT&T's Bet on Health Technology - New York Times article Read More
• Policy for clarifying the vendor selection process Read More
• Fall Edition of ACHE Newsletter has interesting article Meaningful Use 101 Read More
• Letter from ONC regarding Meaningful Use Read More
• Study: EHRs boost docs' reporting of adverse drug events Read More
• ONC launches certified product list website Go to website
• North Texas Regional Extension Center up and running! -  The NTREC is now enrolling providers and helping them work towards Meaningful Use and incentive money. For information contact information@ntrec.org.
• Meaningful Use rule to see "minor revisions" Read More
• Surgeon General says "EHRs a must" Read More
• Regional Extension Center news accessed here: www.regionalextensioncenters.com