Office Ally selected as approved EHR vendor for Arizona REC

Office Ally announced today that it has been selected as an approved electronic health record (EHR) vendor for the Arizona Regional Extension Center (REC).

“We appreciate the confidence the REC has shown in Office Ally and look forward to working with Arizona physicians and other providers in helping them implement EHR in a meaningful and impactful way”

The Arizona REC is one of 62 federally designated RECs nationwide that assists primary care providers with the adoption and optimization of EHRs and achievement of Meaningful Use. "Meaningful Use" is technology that improves care coordination, reduces healthcare disparities, engages patients and their families, improves population and public health, and ensures adequate privacy and security.

Office Ally's EHR 24/7 product has been certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to help providers meet Meaningful Use requirements. In order to be eligible for government funding under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, providers must use EHR technology that has received such designation.

Today's announcement with the Arizona REC comes on the heels of last month's announcement that Office Ally had entered into a similar agreement with the RECs in California and Colorado.

An EHR is a patient record in digital format that can be shared confidentially and securely across different healthcare settings. Such records may include medical history, medications and allergies, immunization status, laboratory test results, radiology images, and billing information. Part of the economic stimulus package passed by Congress in 2009 provides incentive payments for Medicaid and Medicare providers that adopt and use certified EHRs.

"The federal government is encouraging all providers to adopt EHRs as a way to improve quality, safety, efficiency and access," said Melissa Rutala, chief executive officer of Arizona Health-e Connection, the nonprofit organization that is the grant recipient of the REC's federal funding. "We are excited to approve Office Ally as a Tier 1 vendor in the REC's Vendor Alliance Program as they bring to Arizona a proven track record of quality, affordability and customer service that will serve us well."

Office Ally's EHR 24/7, which costs providers just $29.95 a month, is the base of what will be offered to Arizona providers. In addition, providers' members will receive additional interfaces and technical support, all for a low fixed monthly fee. Set-up and unlimited training are included, along with free clearinghouse, practice management and patient health registry services, all integrated with the EHR. Office Ally is able to extend this exceptional value to providers because it is the only organization in the country to offer them a full suite of revenue-cycle management services.

"We appreciate the confidence the REC has shown in Office Ally and look forward to working with Arizona physicians and other providers in helping them implement EHR in a meaningful and impactful way," said Brian O'Neill, president and chief executive officer of Office Ally. "The development of electronic health records will improve healthcare in Arizona in ways that patients, providers and the entire system all benefit."