AmericanEHR Partners Program announced by ACP and Cientis Technologies
A collaboration developing a new Web site to help medical practitioners compare electronic health records (EHR) systems was announced today by its founding partners, the American College of Physicians (ACP) and Cientis Technologies. The free, web-based resource, the AmericanEHR Partners Program, will help healthcare professionals compare, evaluate, select and learn how to use certified EHR systems effectively.
"The objective of AmericanEHR Partners is to provide a credible, easy-to-use national resource for physicians who are selecting, implementing or using an EHR," said Dr. Alan Brookstone, CEO, Cientis Technologies.
"ACP is excited to provide the medical community with this new, unbiased resource on EHRs," said ACP President Joseph W. Stubbs, MD, FACP.
Other professional associations joining the effort are:
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), a health care information management organization
Medical Groups:
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
- American Osteopathic Association of Medical Informatics (AOAMI)
- Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA)
- Renal Physicians Association (RPA)
- Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM)
In 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act --HITECH Act -- (part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) established criteria for Medicare and Medicaid participating physicians to receive financial incentives for using EHRs in a meaningful manner. Implementation of certified EHR technology will enable physician practices to take advantage of Federal Stimulus funding of up to $44,000 in additional Medicare payments between 2011 and 2015.
As healthcare professionals plan to adopt healthcare information technology (Health IT) and receive funds, they will be faced with a range of certified EHR solutions. AmericanEHR Partners will simplify Health IT adoption by allowing healthcare professionals to:
- Evaluate readiness to adopt an EHR and provide a list of recommended resources to help with deficiencies;
- View comprehensive EHR user ratings on different solutions (ratings will be based on surveys of physicians conducted through their professional societies);
- Sort EHR solutions based on medical subspecialty and functionality; and
- Provide side-by-side comparisons of EHR systems.