The Regional Extension Center Program: Helping Physicians Meaningfully Use Health Information Technology

Abstract

Many physicians face financial and organizational barriers that inhibit their adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems. The 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act included provisions to facilitate the transition from paper to electronic records, including Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments to support the adoption and meaningful use of EHR systems. It also created the Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) program to ease the barriers faced by primary care physicians and rural and critical-access hospitals seeking to implement EHRs. The 60 RECs will administer individualized assistance to primary care practices and rural and critical-access hospitals as they implement new EHR systems or upgrade existing ones. In aggregate, the RECs aim to help 100 000 primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to effectively implement EHR systems and qualify for incentive payments for meaningful use. This article describes the rationale for the REC program and describes how the 60 RECs promote the meaningful use of EHR systems.

Variation in Electronic Health Record Adoption and Readiness for Meaningful Use: 2008–2011

“…These differences may reflect in part the early efforts of the Regional Extension Centers (RECs) in promoting EHR adoption among primary care physicians; the particular Medicare and Medicaid eligibility requirements for MU; and the proliferation of health care delivery redesign efforts, such as the Patient Centered Medical Home, which focus on primary care physicians and require the use of health IT. 11,16,[20][21][22] The increased number and types of functionalities adopted by primary care physicians in comparison to specialists in 2011 may place them in a better position to qualify for financial incentives and reap other benefits. Physicians using EHRs with advanced functionalities have reported greater benefits from using EHRs.…”

“…10 A federally funded regional extension center program (REC) also began providing physicians with assistance to purchase and implement EHR systems, to train staff, and to address changes to clinical workflow. 11 Primary care physicians are among the key groups of physicians that are the focus of these efforts.…”

Health Information Exchange and Care Coordination of Diabetic Patients Between Medicine and Dentistry

“…21 However, the HIE is a requirement for meaningful use of the EHR, and the national HIE infrastructure currently under construction is designed to connect certified EHRs. 3,9 For more than a decade, medical practices across the country have familiarized themselves with the principles of population management of chronic illness using diabetes as an example. 22 The clinical standard of care for this model includes ensuring that patients with diabetes receive routine eye care and are screened for peripheral neuropathy in their feet on a yearly basis, both of which involve care coordination with non-primary care specialties.…”

“…2 The recent acceleration in implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) in primary care practices stimulated by federal financial incentives has led to new ways of thinking about the management of information to support patient-centric workflows. 3 This article presents a conceptual framework for a delivery of care process that crosses the boundary between medicine and dentistry with a corresponding model for the exchange of information to support the workflow.…”

Provider Perceptions of the Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs: A Survey of Eligible Professionals Who Have and Have Not Attested to Meaningful Use

“…Thus, EPs in this region had equal opportunity to utilize regional resources to achieve MU. 11 The sampling frame for MU-Active EPs consisted of contact information for 8,313 EPs from Washington State and northern Idaho, which was . A stratified random sample was selected by proportionately sampling from strata for state and medical specialty and comparing this sample to the MU-Active sample to assure that redundant names were not drawn.…”