UNI/CARE CEO promotes health IT, incentive programs at seminar

2011 is an important year for health care providers as they can now begin to qualify for significant federal monies to improve their information technology systems, UNI/CARE Systems' chief executive officer told a gathering of health IT professionals earlier this month.

May Ahdab, PhD., president and chief executive officer of UNI/CARE, discussed the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Programs as part of her presentation to the Open Minds Best Management Practices Institute in Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 17-18.

The incentive programs are being funded through the Office of the National Coordinator for IT, a unit of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The National Coordinator position was created in 2004 to manage nationwide efforts to implement health IT to improve coordination of care through electronic technologies.

UNI/CARE Systems, which provides electronic health records to the human services and behavioral health industry under the Pro-Filer^TM brand name is at the forefront of the effort to improve health care service through enhanced health IT nationwide.

"UNI/CARE believes the use of electronic health records and case management extends beyond one patient, one clinician, one specialty, and one organization," Dr. Ahdab said.  "Our mission is to connect people and systems, thereby improving collaboration and enabling informed decision making."

More than $19 billion in federal dollars will be available in the form of large awards for Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs for eligible providers, which include hospitals and individual practitioners, Dr. Ahdab told the group.

The incentive programs aim to increase national adoption of health IT, assure systems are interoperable, improve quality of care, strengthen HIPAA regulations and ultimately save federal dollars over the long term.

"Health care organizations typically operate as 'separate silos' acting without the benefit of complete information about the patient's condition, history, services provided in other settings, or medications provided by other clinicians," as stated by Dr. Ahdab.

"Faced with rapid technological changes, the health care delivery system has fallen far short in its ability to translate knowledge into practice and to apply new technology safely and appropriately."

Benefits of electronic health records include increased safety for patients, greater efficiencies for clinicians including reduction of waste, better cooperation and coordination among providers, more consistent decision-making and protocols, and timely, effective and patient-centered care.

The incentive programs, to be administered through the states, will provide large awards to help hospitals and providers implement electronic health records.  Eligible providers can receive up to $44,000 over five years and up to $67,750 over six years. Hospitals participating in a five-year incentive program can receive a base payment of $2 million.

Hospitals and providers participating in the incentive programs will work toward creating secure and protected electronic patient information, improving health care quality, reducing costs, increasing coordination of care and information sharing among various providers and labs, and promote early detection, prevention and management of chronic diseases.

"An electronic health record must be incorporated into the routine care process," Dr. Ahdab said.  "The right implementation involves setting goals for benefits and adjusting processes and organizational governance to achieve those goals.  It is essential to recognize that achieving meaningful use of an EHR system is a large-scale clinical change project involving significant changes in care delivery that must be clinician-led."

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About UNI/CARE Systems, Inc.

UNI/CARE Systems, Inc., provides electronic health records to the human services and behavioral health industry under the Pro-Filer^TM brand name. UNI/CARE's Pro-Filer^TM EHR is a certified solution engaging consumers, providers and organizations in a CONNECTED health environment.

For more information:

UNI/CARE Systems, Inc., 540 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fla. 34236

www.unicaresys.com

Phone: (941) 954-3403

Fax: (941) 954-2033