We’ve all had similar nightmares: You find yourself in a classroom and suddenly the teacher says, “Take out your pencils for the algebra exam, which will be 45% of your total grade.” Algebra exam? You didn’t know there was an exam! And oh no, you’re not wearing pants!
Nightmares like these elicit the same feelings that many doctors feel when choosing an EMR. In many cases they knew about the EMR incentive, but not about the government penalties starting in 2016.
Most media coverage is focused on the $44,000 available incentives over the next five years. However, if a provider has not demonstrated Meaningful Use of an EMR by 2015, he or she will experience a decrease in Medicare payouts. Some experts are convinced that this part of HITECH will be repealed. We will let you know if and when that happens.
Practice Fusion is well its way to helping users qualify for the incentives and avoid any potential penalties. And I do mean help, not just allow. With free training, support and rapid response time, a medical provider using the EMR will not only be able to demonstrate Meaningful Use, he or she will be guided toward it every step of the way.
e-Prescribing is an example of meaningful EMR use. Don’t know how to e-prescribe? A Practice Fusion Account Manager will reach out and teach you. We are very close to being fully certified EMR and guarantee that our users will be able to qualify for the first round of incentives in 2011. However, certification does not completely level the playing field. When looking at two certified EMRs, it’s important to consider ease of use, maintenance and of course training and support.
The teacher hands out the algebra exam and you start to sweat. Then out of nowhere, someone named Practice Fusion hands you all the answers. You look down and, voila! You’re wearing pants! The nightmare is over.
Derek Ward
Trainer, Product Evangelist
Practice Fusion EMR
