ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec 01, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Michigan Center for Effective IT Adoption announced today that more than 3,724 primary care providers in Michigan have committed to adopting electronic health records to help improve their quality of care and lower health care costs. This represents a commitment by almost one-quarter of primary care providers in the state to work with M-CEITA, Michigan's federally designated Health IT Regional Extension Center, to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs as a way to transition from paper records to EHRs.
M-CEITA, founded in 2010 with a $19 million grant to the nonprofit Altarum Institute, helps Michigan health care providers adopt certified EHR systems by providing unbiased information and support to navigate the complex EHR marketplace. M-CEITA also received support from the Kresge Foundation.
"We have witnessed, firsthand, providers making significant strides in switching to an electronically enabled practice," said Dan Armijo, Director of M-CEITA. "The 3,724 providers who have partnered with our REC are leading the way for Michigan's medical community in meeting the meaningful use EHR criteria, ultimately leading to improved patient health care."
At the ONC Annual Meeting on November 17, 2011, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology announced that the nationwide network of 62 RECs, of which M-CEITA is a part, achieved one of its first major milestones--gaining commitments from 100,000 PCPs to adopt electronic health records in a meaningful way ( http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/11/20111117a.html ).
While M-CEITA will continue through the end of 2011 to sign up providers for REC services, the achievement of this milestone represents the closure of M-CEITA's enrollment period, as M-CEITA's federal funding currently subsidizes technical assistance to only 3,724 PCPs in Michigan. M-CEITA will shift its focus to helping existing clients achieve the meaningful use of health IT necessary to qualify for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs. Interested providers who miss the sign-up window may join a wait list for M-CEITA services.
Altarum Institute ( www.altarum.org ) integrates objective research and client-centered consulting skills to deliver comprehensive, systems-based solutions that improve health and health care. Altarum employs more than 400 individuals and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., with additional offices in the Washington, D.C., area; Sacramento, Calif.; Atlanta, Ga.; Portland, Maine; and San Antonio, Texas.
SOURCE: Altarum Institute
Altarum Institute
Jeff Moore, 703-575-1685
[email protected]