Something's happening in Akron
Some Akron, OH-area hospitals and payers are providing funding and technical assistance of physicians to help them acquire EHRs and other health information technology (iHealthBeat, April 2). As part of a P4P program that involves Summa Health Network, the physician contracting arm of Summa Health System, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio has agreed to pay doctors at a higher rate if they acquire EHRs.
Some Akron, OH-area hospitals and payers are providing funding and technical assistance of physicians to help them acquire EHRs and other health information technology (iHealthBeat, April 2). As part of a P4P program that involves Summa Health Network, the physician contracting arm of Summa Health System, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio has agreed to pay doctors at a higher rate if they acquire EHRs. Meanwhile, SummaCare, the health system's own health plan, is contributing some of the $4.6 million in grants that the Summa network is awarding to EHR adopters.
On the other side of town, Akron General Medical Center has negotiated a discount from RelayHealth, a secure messaging service, for staff physicians. RelayHealth enables patients to request prescription refills and schedule appointments online and to consult online with physicians.
