Oregon group aims to help critical-access hospitals meet meaningful use
From Paul Barr at ModernHealthcare.com:
OCHIN, a not-for-profit health information technology services provider in Portland, Ore., will assist 25 critical-access hospitals in Oregon in their efforts to meet federal requirements for the meaningful use of electronic health-record systems.
The critical-access hospitals will gain access to free and low-cost services that include meaningful-use assessments, EHR vendor selection and installation assistance, on-site audits, education and training, and privacy and security assistance, according to a news release from OCHIN. The services will be provided by OCHIN and its subsidiary, Oregon's Health Information Technology Extension Center, through an agreement with an Oregon critical-access hospital network—the Oregon Rural Health Quality Network, Bend, Ore. The Oregon Rural Health Quality Network agreement took effect April 1, and all facilities will be able to access services without charge through March 2012. OCHIN and O-HITEC are responsible for helping Oregon's rural hospitals and primary-care providers in small practices install certified EHR systems and meaningfully use them to improve quality and reduce the cost of patient services, according to the release.
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20110510/NEWS/305109987#ixzz1LyViOOGH