Regional Extension Centers - Technical Assistance to Medical Practices

Sept. 15, 2009 - PRLog -- US Healthcare is set to undergo several major changes, owing primarily to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Under the federal health IT incentive programs and the stimulus package, beginning in 2011, physicians who demonstrate "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHR) could qualify for up to $44,000 in Medicare incentive payments. In 2015, the government will enact penalties for health care providers who have failed to demonstrate meaningful use.

The HITECH Act authorizes a Health Information Technology Extension Program (Extension Program). The Extension Program consists of Regional Extension Centers (Regional Centers) and a national Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC).  The Regional Centers will offer technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to support and accelerate health care providers’ efforts to become meaningful users of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The Extension Program will establish an estimated 70 (or more) Regional Centers each serving a defined geographic area. The Regional Centers will support at least 100,000 primary care providers, through participating non-profit organizations, in achieving meaningful use of EHRs and enabling nationwide health information exchange.

NewCreationIT is proposing the following collaborative effort and support services alongside the Regional Extension Centers (Regional Centers) to primary care providers and medical practices who will be supported by the Regional Extension Centers :

(1) Provide technical assistance, trouble shooting, training and competence building for physicians as they progress through EHR installation and implementation

(2) Provide custom software development services as required for physician practices to accomplish one or more of the following:
              a.   Migrate existing data from varied formats and data stores in to new systems
              b.   Assist physicians with existing systems to obtain Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) certification
             c.   Extend current systems to incorporate all components of the proposed (and to be finalized) "meaningful" use matrix
           d.   Extend current systems to include laboratory interfaces, electronic claims submission, electronic prescriptions, etc.

(3) provide continuing technical support to such practices and hospitals to
             a.   ensure ongoing compliance to criteria for federal incentive payments as policies and standards are established.
             b.   ensure interoperability which includes interfacing with laboratories and clinical summaries needed for continuity of care, participation in Health Information Exchanges (HIE), etc.

Remote Engagement
NewCreationIT has several years of experience in healthcare IT, with broad experience across several EMR/EHR software, and capabilities across several technologies and platforms. NewCreationIT specializes in delivering technical assistance and support using web conference, email, telephone, instant messaging, and remote infrastructure management, without necessitating on-site presence. NewCreationIT avoids conventional support that requires on-site presence with the added expense of travel and accommodation. NewCreationIT’s Remote Engagement, delivers timely assistance to physicians across all specialties, and in practices of all sizes – solo practices, small group practices, medical centers and large hospitals. NewCreationIT’s healthcare IT technical support rates begin as low as US$ 20/hour.

NewCreationIT is available to provide technical support services to the Regional Extension Centers and the primary care providers these centers will serve. By leveraging NewCreationIT's services, primary care providers and medical centers to be supported by the Regional Extension Centers will have the opportunity to access world-class technical support services, available 24/7 at significantly lowers costs, that will further the adoption and use of certified health information technology.

For additional information please contact us at: business@newcreationit.com, or please visit us online at www.newcreationit.com .

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NewCreationIT.com specializes in the design, implementation, deployment and support of electronic health records (EHR), EMR Software and medical practice management software for individual physicians, speciality centers, large hospitals & small clinics.