Extension Centers Aid Transition to Electronic Health Records

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 100,000 primary care providers are adopting certified electronic health records in an effort to improve quality of care and ultimately lower health costs.

The number represents more than one-third of all primary care providers nationwide who will work with their Regional Extension Center to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs as a way to transition from paper records to certified EHRS, a major step toward “broader and more meaningful use of health IT,” according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Designed to jump start EHR adoption, the Health Information Technology Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 created a nationwide network of regional extension centers comprised of local nonprofits to provide guidance and resources to help eligible professionals make the transition.

The 2009 legislation falls under the Recovery Act and offers incentive payments to eligible providers that meet meaningful use of certified EHR criteria.

The 62 extension centers focus on assisting primary care providers and providers serving traditionally medically underserved populations taking part in the Medicare and Medicaid HER incentive programs use electronic records in ways that can reduce health care costs, increase patient safety and improve the overall quality of patient care.

Providers face challenges in adopting the process, including tight budgets, overstretched health information technology staff and limited broadband access, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

“The RECs are playing an integral role in helping providers on the path to EHR adoption,” said Farzad Mostashari, M.D. and ScM at the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “This compelling milestone demonstrates strong interest in adoption and meaningful use among community health centers, small practices, and rural providers that can lead to improvements in health and healthcare.”

Half of the providers committed to making the transition to certified EHRs are in small group practices or consortia of small group practices. The remaining providers focus on the underserved, with 18 percent in community health centers; 11 percent in public hospitals; and 21 percent in other underserved settings, such as critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and practices in medically underserved areas, according to the department.

The centers serve the majority of primary care providers in small practices in rural areas.