Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (HIT), and Regional HIT Leaders Discuss Meaningful Use and Electronic Health Record Incentives for Healthcare Providers at GW Hospital

Today, over 125 health IT stakeholders including hospital executives, information technology professionals, physicians and medical and public health students convened at The George Washington University Hospital to hear from federal and regional health information technology leaders about how electronic health records can improve patient care, as well as how to apply for federal stimulus funds available to support the adoption of health information technology.

January 2011 marks the first time in our nation’s history that hospitals and eligible healthcare providers can register their intent to achieve “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records (EHRs) and qualify for incentive payments under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 

David Blumenthal, MD, MPP, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, headlined the event and says that, “the incentive payment plan program is aimed at accelerating the nation’s adoption of health information technology.”   Dr. Blumenthal shared information from an HHS survey that revealed that 81-percent of hospitals plan to take advantage of the incentive payment program.  He calls the national adoption of health information technology “an historic turning point for healthcare in America.”

Under both Medicare and Medicaid, eligible hospitals may receive millions of dollars for implementing meaningful use of certified EHR technology.  Individual practitioners who qualify may receive up to $44,000 from Medicare or $63,750 from Medicaid.

Other speakers included leadership from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the College of Health Information Executives (CHIME); representatives from ONC grantees, the DC Primary Care Association and DC Department of Health Care Finance; and chief information officers from three area hospitals, as well as Stephen Badger, CEO of the GW Medical Faculty Associates, one of the largest private physician groups in the District.

“At GW Hospital, we have been implementing electronic records for patient care for years and achieving meaningful use requirements will be no small task,” said Gretchen Tegethoff, MSIST, CPHIMS, Chief Information Officer of The George Washington University Hospital.  “However, we are committed to working towards this standard because we recognize that it’s absolutely essential if we are to use electronic health records to improve care, make health delivery more efficient and cost-effective and curb healthcare spending in the United States.”