How Can You Attain Meaningful Use?

Attaining Meaningful Use (MU) is not an event, but a process.  As a practical matter, MU should be organized around packages of MU criteria in a sequence that leads to achieving Meaningful Use.  For example, it would not be practical to provide patients with electronic access to their patient records (MU Menu Set 5), until you maintain an electronic copy of patient health information (MU Core Measure 12). 

Meaningful Use can be divided into three stages:

Why Should You Worry About Your Next EHR Now?

While you are looking for a new EHR to qualify for Meaningful Use, it is not too early to think about what you are going to do when you stop using this new EHR and move to the next generation of EHR products in (hopefully) a number of years down the road.

The significant and troublesome barriers to moving from one EHR to another and the vendor issues that impede such moves are a strategic concern for anyone buying an EHR.

Is Your Practice Ready for an EHR?

From Medicare/Medicaid incentives to EHR industry ads, it is hard to cut through the hype and determine if your practice is even ready to try to select and implement an EHR.

Implementing an EHR is a transformational exercise for any practice that requires redesigning every aspect of charting, clinical workflow and interaction with patients.  However, in too many cases, practices approach EHR projects without considering the organizational commitment needed to succeed.

Governance and Management –

What is a Certified EHR?

In order to receive the Medicare or Medicaid stimulus monies, you have to attain Meaningful Use using a Certified EHR.  One would think that all Certified EHRs offer a high level of capability and functionality.  Unfortunately, you would be wrong.

How Do You Organize EHR Transitions?

EHR implementation is not an event as much as a process.  The key to implementation is managing a variety of transitions from the paper chart to the electronic chart.  Your transition strategies and decisions could have repercussions on patient care and malpractice risk.

EHR transition must be based on sound clinical decision making and coordination of dramatic changes to clinical operations.  In too many cases, practices let the technological issues dominate EHR deployment and relegate clinical issues to an afterthought.

How Can You Plan and Design Your EHR Effort?

Any EHR project must be based a clear commitment in time and resources by management and doctors.  In too many cases, EHR projects focus on the technical project aspects rather than the transformational strategies and commitment needed to succeed.  In the final analysis, the project must be supported by effective empowerment and governance.

Planning, analysis and design is woefully inadequate for most EHR projects.  As a practical matter, practices need to create a clear and complete plan backed by good project and implementation design efforts to succeed.  The components that you need to address include:

Implementation Plan –

What is an Additional Financial Consideration for EHR Adoption in 2011?

Until December 31, 2011, EHR investments are eligible for 100% Bonus depreciation.  100 % Bonus Depreciation allows a practice to completely write off their hardware and software EHR expense without limit in 2011.  (Bonus Depreciation drops to 50% in 2012 and reverts to regular depreciation in 2013.)  Another interesting aspect to Bonus Depreciation is that Bonus Depreciation is not limited to an offsetting profit.  Without getting into too much number crunching, that means that you may be able to generate positive cash flow depending on financing etc.

For many practices, a 2011 EHR investment may present a significant tax benefit.  However, that means that you need to move forward quickly since the EHR must be placed in service by the end of 2011 to qualify for 100% Bonus Depreciation, and by December 31, 2012 to qualify for 50% Bonus Depreciation.

Note that an EHR placed in service is not the same as attaining Meaningful Use and qualifying for the Stimulus Incentives.

© Sterling Solutions, 2011

What EHR Contract Issues are Important?

EHR contract negotiations should based on the fact that your practice, and not the vendor, is responsible for maintaining your patient records.  Anything that could inhibit your access or use of patient information will cause you problems and may compromise patient health.  Unfortunately, most EHR contracts do not recognize your obligations or accommodate your situation.

Contracting for an EHR actually consists of three portions: the business deal, key contract issues and contract details.  This article will focus on essential business issues and key contract issues.