What Radiologists Must Know About Meaningful Use
By Cheryl Proval

To hear four radiologists who have immersed themselves in the minutiae of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act describe it, meaningful use—as it relates to radiologists—is an opportunity, a minefield, and a responsibility that could cost more than the $44,000 per radiologist that can be gained by demonstrating meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.

Nonetheless, Ramin Khorasani, MD; David Avrin, MD, PhD; Keith Dreyer, DO, PhD; and David Mendelson, MD, attempted to cover the meaningful-use waterfront, as it relates to radiology, with a program description, clarifications, caveats, and tips in a session titled "Healthcare Reform Through Meaningful Use of Healthcare IT: Implications for Radiologists," on November 29, 2010, at the annual RSNA meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

A common thread that ran throughout the presentations was this: Every practice, in every setting, would be well advised to appoint someone to conduct a careful review of the 100-plus-page overview documents (if not the entire 900-page final bill) describing the program. Unless they are willing to risk penalties that will amount to 5% of Medicare payments by 2019, an estimated 90% of radiologists must demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology by 2015.

An Overview of the HITECH Act
Meaningful Use and Maintenance of Certification
Meaningful Use and the Private Practice
Seven Tips: Meaningful Use and the Academic Practice

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University Radiology Tackles Meaningful Use
By Cat Vasko

The revelation that 85% of radiologists are considered nonhospital-based physicians—and are considered, therefore, to be eligible for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds—has sparked something of a gold-rush mentality in the imaging industry. Medicare-participating radiologists who are not hospital based (providing at least 90% of their services in inpatient or emergency-department settings) are permitted to participate in the program, which could yield incentives of up to $44,000 for each radiologist over five years. With stage 1 of the ARRA’s Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health provisions kicking off in 2011, how should practices prepare to demonstrate meaningful use of their certified IT systems?

Depending on your current IT system’s vendors, it might already be too late to attempt to qualify in 2011, according to Alberto Goldszal, MBA, PhD, CIO of University Radiology, East Brunswick, New Jersey. “The vendor that is your electronic health record (EHR) provider—in our case, it’s the RIS provider—must be certified per the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC),” he says. “If you’re not using a certified EHR, you’ll have to start implementing one right away, and I’m not sure you have time to take advantage of all the incentives as early as 2011. If your vendor has been certified already or is in the process of being certified—and the list is being updated all the time—I feel optimistic about the ability to prove meaningful use.” The list of ONC-certified EHRs and EHR modules is updated continuously.

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Fujifilm Builds a Foundation for Meaningful Use
By Cheryl Proval

With the definition of meaningful use coming into greater focus, radiologists have seen their initial disappointment at not being invited to the party evolve into the realization that they must demonstrate meaningful use of health IT or risk penalties in 2015.

Radiology practices bear the burden of assessing readiness and preparing a strategy, but imaging IT vendors will also play a critical role in preparing their systems for certification, either as qualified electronic health records (EHRs) or certified EHR modules. At FUJIFILM Medical Systems USA, Inc, Stamford, Connecticut, that effort began with gathering the facts, conducting an internal analysis, and hiring a consulting company to help guide product enhancements that will position the Synapse RIS to be certified as a qualified EHR.

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CMS final rule on meaningful use

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ACR® stage 1 meaningful-use summary

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CMS tip sheet for eligible providers

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Electronic health record (EHR) incentive program overview

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Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) final rule on EHR certification criteria, standards, and implementation specifications

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ONC certified health IT product list

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ONC meaningful-use site

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ONC Adds Two Testing and Certification Bodies
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has named two additional testing and certification bodies to authorize complete EHRs and EHR modules. They are ICSA Labs, Mechnicsburg, PA, and SLI Global Solutions, Denver, CO.


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Top 10 Tech Hazards for 2011
Radiation dose figures twice in the ECRI Institute’s list of the top 10 technology hazards for 2011, but data loss also made the ranking. Number one on the list is radiation overdose and other dose errors during radiation therapy. Number four on the list is high radiation dose. Number five consists of data loss, system incompatibilities, and other IT complications.

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Certification for Homegrown IT Systems
While many homegrown PACS have been retired at this point, the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology has launched a program to help owners of homegrown electronic health record (EHR) systems and EHR modules meet certification requirements. The program, called the EHR Alternative Certification for Hospitals, or EACH, will be piloted at New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York.

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President Signs Red-flag Exemption Bill
President Obama has signed into law legislation exempting health-care providers from the red-flag rules that require creditors to put rigorous anti–identity-theft requirements and safeguards into place. The law exempts physicians, other professionals, and many hospitals from complying with the same regulations to which banks and creditors must adhere.

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PUBLISHER
Curtis Kauffman-Pickelle

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Cheryl Proval

EDITOR
Cat Vasko

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Sharon Fitzgerald

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Jean Lavich

TECHNICAL EDITOR
Kris Kyes

WEB MASTER
Robert Elmquist