Where is your practice in the transition from  paper charts to electronic health records (EHRs)?

If you’re closer to the beginning of the process  than the end, consider joining the more than 100,000 primary care providers  already working with 

 (RECs)  in an effort to adopt the technology. The recently-reached milestone number  represents more than one-third of the country’s primary care providers,  according to the 

 (ONC)  for Health Information Technology (HIT), which is part of the Department of  Health and Human Services.

RECs (pronounced R-E-Cs) are nonprofit  organizations tasked with providing guidance and resources to help practices  such as yours transition from paper records to certified EHRs. Providers  who meet criteria for meaningful use of certified EHRs may be eligible for 

Medicare and Medicaid  incentive payments

The 62 RECs focus on assisting primary care  providers and those providers serving populations that traditionally have been  medically underserved.

“The RECs are playing an integral role in helping  providers on the path to EHR adoption,” says Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM,  national coordinator for HIT in the ONC. “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.”

This reference guide is ideal for physicians who are vetting through the process of choosing an electronic health record (EHR) system. Helpful tips on the process of preparing a Request for Pricing from a vendor and real-life problems, snafus, and some victories that take place as three different practices go live with their EHR systems. 

Primary care physicians, meet your regional extension center

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Practice Management

Technology

More than 100,000 primary care practices are using the services of a regional extension center to implement electronic health records. Consider joining them if your practice is closer to the beginning of the process than the end.