What's At Stake?
"I am a victim of not having electronic health records. I am legally blind because they put me on medication for my heart and the medicine killed the optic nerve in my eye. Had EHRs, with their medicine alerts, been available, I would have my sight today. I hope Alaska will adopt interoperable electronic health records soon, so this won't happen to anyone else."
— AEHRA Board Member, Ben Tisdale, 71
Alliance Endorses e-MDs and Greenway
"The process was very thorough and extensive, and I believe we have selected two excellent EHRs for Alaska providers to choose from."
— Alaska EHR Alliance President Jerome List, MD.
After an 8-month due diligence process, the Alaska EHRAlliance is pleased to announce the selection of two outstanding EHR vendors to recommend to Alaska providers, e-MDs and Greenway. With more than 250 vendors to choose from, the process was thorough and lengthy. Funded by the Alaska eHealthNetwork through a grant from the State of Alaska, the project was initiated because statistics show that one of the top barriers to adopting an EHR is the difficulty deciding which EHR to choose. Read more about the selection process. The five finalist vendors were: Allscripts; Amazing Charts; eClinicalWorks; e-MDs; and Greenway. For information about the two endorsed vendors or to schedule a demonstration, go to Greenway and to e-MDs.
Press Release about the EHR Selection Project:
EHRs in the News
"Meaningful Use" Updates
Don't miss out on federal funds to help with the expenses of your EHR. For the latest information about requirements for using your EHR "meaningfully" check the information below:
http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=1325&parentname=...
Federal Funding for Alaska Regional Extension Center Awarded to Alaska eHealth Network
Center to Support EHR Adoption services
New funding to support EHR adoption by Alaska physicians will be available soon as part of a national program for regional centers. The Alaska Regional Extension Center will provide a variety of services to eligible providers including EHR assessments, office redesign, training and IT support. For more information, go to Alaska eHealth Network at www.ak-ehealth.org. A press release went out statewide and is included below:
EHR Usage Survey Results Updated
In April, 2009, Physicians and clinic managers from 29 communities completed an Alaska EHR usage survey funded by the Alaska eHealth Network with a grant from the Rasmuson Foundation and conducted by CraciunResearch, Inc. Findings included the following summary: Although half the respondents in the survey use an EHR, when ascribing a number to the total population, it is likely that number is around the national average of about 20%. The variety of EHRs in use in Alaska is daunting- about 55 reported different EHRs! This gives weight to the need for technology to exchange the data, known as an HIE system (Health Information Exchange). To that end, the Alaska Legislature passed a bill in the 2009 session, SB133 to create a statewide electronic health information exchange system. Click here for a summary of results from the 2009 EHR Usage Survey. For the entire report, click here.
In January 2010, clinics that reported not having EHRs in the 2009 survey, were called to find out if any had since adopted EHRs. Of the 94 clinics that responded to the follow-up survey, 24 clinics, (26%) had acquired EHRs and another 19% were planning to do so. The follow up survey was funded by the Alaska eHealth Network.
Alaska eHealth Newsletter Spring
Read about the latest Alaska EHR and HIE (health information exchange) news for providers! For more information about the Alaska eHealth Network's efforts to provide interoperability to Alaska's EHRs visit www.ak-eHealth.com.
AeHN Spring newsletter.pdf
Stimulus Monies Available for EHRs
Up to $44,000 over five years is available per provider who adopt an EHR and use it "meaningfully." The Economic Recovery Act 2009 offers a great opportunity for many physicians to receive funding to help defray the cost of adopting an EHR. For some, the incentive payments may be enough to cover most of the cost of a good quality, certified EHR. Payments will be made through additional Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements over five years, beginning in 2011 and ending in 2015. In general, a qualifying EP (Eligible Provider) can receive an annual incentive payment as high as $18,000 if their first payment year is 2011 or 2012. Otherwise, the annual incentive payment limits in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth years are $15,000, $12,000, $8,000, $4000, and $2,000 respectively. The maximum amount of total incentive payments that an EP can receive under the Medicare program is $44,000. A slightly different formula is used for providers choosing to apply as a Medicaid EP. For more information go to:
www.docehrtalk.org/funding-incentives/stimulus-funds
More information can also be found in the Alaska eHealth Newsletter.
Alaska EHR Alliance: Vision
The improved quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare delivery, through a statewide (eventually nationwide) network of interoperable electronic health records, accessible by patients, clinicians, and other integral medical entities in a timely, secure, and private manner.
Mission Statement
To promote and support development of a statewide, interoperable, Electronic Health Record network, by assisting Alaska's non-public sector healthcare providers in the adoption of Electronic health Records by providing information, guidance, and resources.