Update: Electronic Health Records

In our January 2010 issue, we described some of the steps required to establish an electronic health record (EHR) in time to be eligible for federal funding that is available through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH Act, which is part of the U.S. economic stimulus package. (See “Investing in an Electronic Health Record: Stimulus Money Is Available—Here’s How to Qualify”. )

Just as we went to press, some new information became available, too late to be included in our article: On December 30, 2009, the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released their proposed regulations regarding the terms “meaningful use” and “certified technology.” Both terms had been listed as preconditions for the incentive payments in the original congressional bill, but had not been defined, leaving hospitals uncertain of their meaning. In the proposed regulations, these terms are clarified, and although...