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Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC)
It ranges from $15,000 to $70,000 for each provider to purchase and install an EHR. Although it is time consuming to input pt's data in the system, but the adoption of the EHR in several facilities has made it easier for nurses to retrieve pt's records in a timely manner. It has reduced discrepancies with physician's orders or nurses documentation especially in situations where it is difficult to read the providers handwriting. -
Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC)
In 2004, the ONC was established but legislatively mandated in the HITECH act in 2009. It works directly under the Health and Human Services. Its goals include, lower health care cost, quality health care, improved health, clinical research, and coordinate care effectively. 2015 is the deadline. The cost and complexity of adopting the EHR has contributed to its slow progress. http://www.healthit.gov/newsroom/about-onc. http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/faqs/how-much-going-cost-me -
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National Initiatives of the EHR
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National Health Information Network (NHIN)
The NHIN was initiated by the ONC in 2004. The goal of this body is to create an interoperable national system for secure exchange of health information. Cost and technical issues are very important in the adoption of Helath IT systems. According to studies, it cost about $44,000 to purchase per provider and $8,500 per annum to operate. http://www.worldprivacyforum.org/NHIN_timeline.html -
National Health Information Network (NHIN)
While the usage of the Health Information Technology/EHR will create a more efficient and safe health care system, it does not leave nurses enough time to spend at the patient's bedside.http://www.icucare.com/PageFiles/Overview%20of%20the%20Planned%20National%20Electronic%20Health%20Records%20System.pdf -
Federal Health Architecture (FHA)
FHA is an initiative led by the ONC for Health IT. It is an E-Government line of business initiative that securely exchanges data with other public and private organizations. As of March 2006, FHA was already aligned to ensure interoperability between the public and private sector. http://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/federal-health-architecture-fha -
Federal Health Architecture (FHA)
The goal of the FHA is to create interoperability and increase efficiency within the public sector. FHA has impacted nursing and has been financially beneficial to healthcare organizations in a way that, it ensures accountability for health IT programs to help advance interoperabilty. It has helped improve efficiency, productivity and saved time especially during documentation or accessing of ptaient's records. http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t060406a.html -
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
The ARRA was signed into law by president Obama due to the economic depression. The goals of this act were to make available and preserve jobs, make the government accountable and transparent in their spending and to help in tthe growth of the country's economy. September 30, 2015, available balances will be subject to be expended. ARRA funds of about $2.6 million have aided in nursing education, people from poor backgrounds, student scholarships and stipends. http://www.recovery.gov/About/Pages -
Meaningful Use (MU)
Along with the creation of the HITECH act, regulations for meaningful use werealso enacted to make sure that physicians are using their EHR for what it's actually meant for. MU is meant to improve public health, clinical and individual outcomes, transparency and efficiency in healthcare, improved coordination in patient care and privacy of pt information. MU has 3 stages and requirements that have to be met. Oct 3, 2013 is the last day to begin the 90 day MU reporting period for stage 1. -
Meaningful Use (MU)
Overall implementation deadline for MU of EHR is 2015 or physicians will be penalized. physicians who are eligible could get upto $44,000 (medicare), $63,750 (medicaid) and hospitals, millions in incentives. Nurses are left with the responsibility of inputing pt's information which can be time consuming. http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/index.html?redirect=/EHRIncentivePrograms/ ,http://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/meaningful-use -
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
HITECH act is a legislation that is part of the ARRA. Its goals are to promote quality of care, patient safety and lower cost. It provides financial incentives of about $19.2Billion. To qualify for these incentives, physicians must purchase and use a govt certified EHR and demonstrate meaningful use of the EHR. HITECH act in line with HIPPA has provided stricter guidelines and penalties for violators. Nurses are to be vigilant in protecting patient's records. Deadline is Feb 17, 2010 to comply. -
Structured Data Capture Initiative (SDC)
SDC is an initiative under the ONC Standards &Interoperability (S&I) framework. Goals include to enable collection of structured data within EHR, to store or transmit templates to the appropriate organization or researcher. http://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/electronic-health-and-medical-records/ehr-interoperability-structured-data-capture-initiative/ -
Structured Data Capture Initiative (SDC)
Evaluation of this initiative is in Sept 2013. Risk associated with this system in relation to nursing is that, there could be over-writing and/or more than one of the same data entry of patients records. This will minimize the time nurses spend with patients causing deficiency in speed as the accurate patient record(s) will have to be identified. Financially it can also reduce productivity and increase cost for an organization as more time will be spent clarifying pt's records