More than 1,000 providers have helped the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) Regional Extension Center (REC) become the first, and according to a recent news release, the only REC to receive the federally defined “Meaningful Use” certification, which qualifies them for reimbursements.
Being certified for meaningful use means healthcare providers and organizations have met the strict requirements for appropriate development and use of electronic health records (EHR).
RECs aid a seamless flow of information between physicians and healthcare organizations across communities and regions to allow access to information on any patient anywhere, anytime.
"It's a great feeling to have helped so many providers achieve real results from using electronic medical records, which is what the term 'Meaningful Use' is all about," said Paul Wilder, director of the NYeC REC. "The business partnerships we've developed with the local organizations around the state, including many Regional Health Information Organizations, have been an important part of our success as a REC. New York State has made some pioneering investments in health IT and we've been able to build upon that."
In December NYeC REC enrolled over 5,000 eligible healthcare providers into its programs to help them move from paper to electronic records. RECs offer technical assistance, guidance and information to support and accelerate healthcare providers’ efforts to become meaningful users of EHRs.
The federal REC program does this by helping primary care and small practices – for whom the transition can be most challenging – through educational and support services, adopt health IT. “Meaningful Use includes electronically keeping records of patients' demographics, electronic prescribing, and providing patients with an electronic copy of their health information,” according to the source.
The NYeC REC was one of 62 awarded centers across the country, given federal funding to assist them in helping providers make the transition.
Edited by
Braden Becker
