The EHR Selection Process

Healthcare Information Technology leader, ACS Healthcare Solutions, served as the managing consultant on the project, and a 14-person statewide taskforce, made up of physicians, a nurse practitioner,and clinic managers, volunteered countless hours to help guide the selection.  After the final recommended EHRs were approved by the Alaska EHR Alliance board of directors, contract and pricing negotiations with the vendors commenced to secure the best possible terms for Alaska Providers.

Initial criteria used to narrow the list of EHRs included the following:

  • Affordable and/or remote host option
  • ePrescribing capability
  • CCHIT certified (National EHR certification process)
  • High ratings by independent organizations ACP, AAFP, and KLAS
  • Guarantee to interface with State health information exchange (HIE) system
  • Included a practice management system or partner
  • 40% small practice size clients
  • 70% satisfaction ratings from Alaska physicians in 2009 survey

After the EHR vendor list was narrowed to 13, an RFI was sent to them and the responses evaluated by the task force and then narrowed further to five finalists. These vendors then demonstrated their products for evaluation by physicians and clinic staff at a statewide EHR Workshop held in September 2009, at the Sheraton in Anchorage.

Other Endorsements of eMDs or Greenway

Dr. List noted that the selection of e-MDs and Greenway seems to be a popular choice because other states have also selected these vendors to recommend to their providers, including Arizona (e-MDs) and Massachusetts (e-MDs and Greenway).  e-MDs was the top choice by AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) in a 2009 survey of their members, and KLAS, an independent EHR evaluator, selected Greenway as the best EHR in three classes- 2-5 physician clinic, 6-25 clinic, and best Practice Management system in the 6-25 physician clinic category.  Both EHRs are included in ACP’s 2009-2010 list of EHR partners.

Timing Good for Federal Stimulus Reimbursement

“The selection was timed to offer providers a chance to purchase an EHR in time to take advantage of the national EHR reimbursement funds that will be issued to those who “meaningfully” use an EHR,” said Alliance Treasurer Rich Neubauer, MD, FACP.  “The incentive payments through Medicare will pay up to $44K for individual providers over five years starting in 2011.”   See Stimulus Monies Available for EHRs.

The EHR Task Force Members

"The volunteer task force guided the selection project, and spent countless hours in their efforts to ensure a fair and thorough process."
- Jerome List, MD, President Alaska EHR Alliance

Chair - Jerome List, MD (President of Board of Directors Alaska EHR Alliance) Andre Godet, MD; Pamela Hill, MD; Lynn Hornbein, MD; Chad Jensen, clinic/IT manager; Monique Karaganis, MD; Eric Kohler, MD; Beth Kohnen, MD; Kay Kolb, MD; Elaine Panchione, FNP; Chris Patricoski, MD; Kearin Schulte, clinic manager; Richard Welling, MD; and Linda Boochever (Alliance Executive Director) and  ex-officio member, Rebecca Madison, Director AeHN