Surgery News - August 2008 - (Page 5) AUGUST 2008 • SURGERY NEWS 5 THE THE E Feds Seek to Widen EHR Adoption B Y M A RY E L L E N SCHNEIDER 20/20 / 0/20 V SION O SIO SION IO Else vier Global Medical Ne ws I f the feds have it their way, 40% of physician offices will be using certified electronic health records by 2012. The goal is part of a strategic plan for coordinating the federal government’s health information technology (IT) efforts over the next 4 years, and seeks to further progress toward President Bush’s goal, set out in 2004, that the majority of Americans have access to an electronic health record (EHR) by 2014. About 14% of physicians had adopted some form of health IT by 2007, according to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, which released the strategic plan. Specifically, the plan calls for removing business barriers and disincentives for adoption of EHRs and providing training and technical assistance. For example, the plan says that by next year information on low-cost and effective provider support on EHR adoption should be available online. The plan also calls for increasing the health IT workforce by training more standards developers, ensuring vendors are trained in the implementation of health IT tools, and training physicians and other health care providers in informatics. It also highlights the need to address physician concerns about liability risks related to the exchange of electronic health information. In addition to issues related to adoption, the plan lays out goals for achieving patient-focused health care through EHR access, and enabling the use of electronic health data to benefit public health, research, and emergency preparedness. “[The plan] establishes the next generation of health IT milestones to harness the power of information technology,” Dr. Robert Kolodner, national coordinator for health information technology, said in a statement. The goals are all positive, said Dr. Steven Waldren, director of the Center for Health Information Technology at the American Academy of Family Physicians, but the plan does not place enough emphasis on the need to provide financial incentives to physicians for purchasing and using EHR systems, he said. “The real bottom line is getting the payment reform that is needed in health care today,” Dr. Waldren said. The strategic plan represents a “reasonable approach” going forward and gives a sense of how to achieve the president’s objective of greater access to EHRs, said Dan Rode, vice president of policy and government relations at the American Health Information Management Association. However, many of the items don’t have specific timetables for completion but will instead be reassessed in 2010, he said, leav- ing a lot to be accomplished before 2014. The plan was developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT in collaboration with 12 agencies within HHS, along with the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, and the Federal Communications Commission. The National Committee on Vital Statistics and the American Health Information Community also contributed to the plan. ■ The strategic plan is available online at www.hhs.gov/healthit. New InfoV.A.C. Therapy System ® Better by Design The Next Generation of V.A.C.® Therapy The InfoV.A.C.® Therapy System delivers the same positive outcomes you trust – but is now simpler and more efficient than ever.* Easier to Use. Designed with busy clinicians in mind. Simpler Training. Designed to be easier to learn, improving proficiency. Better Information. Designed to provide consistent wound progress tracking. Better by Design www.InfoVACTherapy.com • 1-800-275-4524 *As compared to V.A.C. ATS® Therapy Note: Specific indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and safety tips exist for this product and therapy. Please consult Product Instructions for Use prior to applications. ©2008 KCI Licensing, Inc. All rights reserved. KCI USA, 8023 Vantage Drive, San Antonio, TX 78230. All trademarks and service marks designated herein are the property of KCI and its affiliates and licensors. The V.A.C.® (Vacuum Assisted Closure®) System and most KCI products are subject to patents and/or pending patents. http://www.hhs.gov/healthit http://www.InfoVACTherapy.com http://www.InfoVACTherapy.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Surgery News - August 2008 Surgery News - August 2008 Contents The 20/20 Vision: Making Amends News From the College: Dedicated Effort Opinion: NOTESworthy? Pediatric Surgery: Burn Remedy Surgery News - August 2008 Surgery News - August 2008 - Contents (Page 1) Surgery News - August 2008 - Contents (Page 2) Surgery News - August 2008 - Contents (Page 3) Surgery News - August 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Surgery News - August 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Surgery News - August 2008 - The 20/20 Vision: Making Amends (Page 6) Surgery News - August 2008 - The 20/20 Vision: Making Amends (Page 7) Surgery News - August 2008 - News From the College: Dedicated Effort (Page 8) Surgery News - August 2008 - News From the College: Dedicated Effort (Page 9) Surgery News - August 2008 - News From the College: Dedicated Effort (Page 10) Surgery News - August 2008 - News From the College: Dedicated Effort (Page 11) Surgery News - August 2008 - Opinion: NOTESworthy? (Page 12) Surgery News - August 2008 - Pediatric Surgery: Burn Remedy (Page 13) Surgery News - August 2008 - Pediatric Surgery: Burn Remedy (Page 14) Surgery News - August 2008 - Pediatric Surgery: Burn Remedy (Page 15) Surgery News - August 2008 - Pediatric Surgery: Burn Remedy (Page 16)
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