Type in "electronic health records" for the HIMSS11 annual conference, Feb. 20-24 in Orlando, and you'll see 69 different sessions--not to mention 23 specifically listed for electronic medical records.
A number of the sessions will look at how EHRs will be used in achieving meaningful use or what is needed to gain acceptance of their use by providers, As an example, FierceHealthIT will hold a breakfast panel discussion Tuesday, Feb. 22 on the impact of mobile health on EHRs to help achieve meaningful use.
New thoughts are emerging, as well, on how EHRs will take on new roles in the changing healthcare system. Case in point, Matt Adamson, vice president of health solutions with MEDecision, presented a coming attraction overview--in a Feb. 9 webinar--of its upcoming HIMSS presentation on what role EHRs will play in the roll out of patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations.
To go from piloting one medical home model to implementing many models within the ACO will rely in part on EHRs. "You need to look at physicians who can share and be very efficient in their organization of data through EHRs"--using data, performing analytics, incorporating e-prescribing and computerized provider order entry, or exchanging data through health information exchanges, Adamson said.
But, he added, the potential weaknesses of EHRs--such as their insufficiencies in managing patient populations for quality and better outcomes in the PCMH and ACO models--need to be addressed as well.
For more information:
- come to the FierceHealthIT discussion
- here's more information on MEDecision