On December 6, 2013­, CMS and the Office of National Coordinator proposed a new meaningful use timeline that will allow providers to focus on the successful implementation of Stage 2 and use data from this interoperability and patient engagement stage to inform policy decisions for Stage 3. Stage 2 will be extended through 2016 and Stage […]

An Arizona hospital is facing scrutiny after one of its employees posted a workplace photo on Facebook, inadvertently including the protected health information and Social Security number of a patient. The University of Arizona Medical Center South-Campus confirmed that an emergency room employee posted a photo of her workstation back in June, which included a […]

(Orlando, October 22, 2013) The UCF Regional Extension Center and Primary Partners, an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), have signed an agreement to assist their providers with achieving Patient Centered Medical Home recognition. The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a new model of primary care delivery that focuses on patient-centered, physician-lead, whole person care. The PCMH […]

(Orlando, October 18, 2013)  Nearly one hundred physicians, practice and healthcare administrators attended a recent seminar on Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition. The attendees from across the state heard from PCMH content experts, and a practice which is already PCMH recognized. The PCMH model of care emphasizes coordinated, whole person care that is team-based […]

Only a small percentage of providers attesting to Meaningful Use will be audited by the government, but the outcome could be harsh, since any single shortfall will be grounds for loss of the full incentive payment, according to attorney Brian Flood with Husch Blackwell in Austin, Texas, who spoke on a webinar conducted Sept. 26, by the […]

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) has shown great promise in lowering costs and improving care at facilities with the wherewithal to implement it, but the transition has been a challenge for smaller organizations lacking significant resources. However, a new study out of the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Southern California suggests the PCMH is […]

Extra funds can go a long way to relieving anticipated headaches of code change. Healthcare providers may face disruptions in their payments even if they are on target to operate using ICD-10 codes on Oct. 1, 2014. Since providers will, and indeed need, to be able to pay rent and staff salaries if the transition does not flow […]

A Physician’s EHR Experience It’s Friday morning, and the doctor’s office is closed, and Lake Mary endocrinologist Dr. Victor Roberts is the only one there. He scans through medical records as he speaks to a concerned patient calling after hours. His patient’s latest lab results and treatment notes are at his fingertips. He asks a […]

UCF REC Launches Patient Centered Medical Home Services   (Orlando, FL, October 10, 2013) The UCF Regional Extension Center has announced the launch of its Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition and transformation support services. The PCMH model focuses on improving healthcare by transforming how primary care is organized and delivered by strengthening the physician-patient relationship […]

Reduces errors:  No more hand written prescriptions my pharmacist can’t read, and the system lets my doctor know if there are possible drug interactions with my medications.   Saves time: My prescriptions go directly to my pharmacy electronically.   Faster service: My doctor can see my records through a few clicks on his/her computer and […]