The The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is now law, signed by President Obama yesterday. The Buzz on the Net is deafening -- with commentary about its impact on healthcare, both positive and negative. I wonder if some of the negative comments are due to the uncertainty and fear of how technology will impact the status quo. Use of technology to maintain records and share data is a "new frontier" for most healthcare providers, and as a new component of practice, there is uncertainty regarding how this technology will impact the delivery of care (and profitability of the practice).
Link: Fear and Loathing over the Stimulus Bill
Aside from financial incentives, there are many decisions needed before effective use of technology becomes transparent for a medical office. Often, these "decisions in progress" (DIPs) create an ever-growing list of "work in progress" (WIPs) and for some, it is stifling. Witness literally hundreds of EHR vendors now on the market and the complexity of rules/regulations in the Act. It is no wonder that there is confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety about how healthcare will be affected.
Understanding how technology will impact their operations is mandatory due diligence before purchasing a software package. There are many stories that describe the "wasted dollars" that were spent on technology initiatives. It doesn't have to be that way.
Read this Sentinel Event Alert from the Jt. Commission, published December, 2008, on Safely implementing health information and converging technologies.
The The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is now law, signed by President Obama yesterday. The Buzz on the Net is deafening -- with commentary about its impact on healthcare, both positive and negative. I wonder if some of the negative comments are due to the uncertainty and fear of how technology will impact the status quo. Use of technology to maintain records and share data is a "new frontier" for most healthcare providers, and as a new component of practice, there is uncertainty regarding how this technology will impact the delivery of care (and profitability of the practice).
Link: Fear and Loathing over the Stimulus Bill
Aside from financial incentives, there are many decisions needed before effective use of technology becomes transparent for a medical office. Often, these "decisions in progress" (DIPs) create an ever-growing list of "work in progress" (WIPs) and for some, it is stifling. Witness literally hundreds of EHR vendors now on the market and the complexity of rules/regulations in the Act. It is no wonder that there is confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety about how healthcare will be affected.
Understanding how technology will impact their operations is mandatory due diligence before purchasing a software package. There are many stories that describe the "wasted dollars" that were spent on technology initiatives. It doesn't have to be that way.
Read this Sentinel Event Alert from the Jt. Commission, published December, 2008, on Safely implementing health information and converging technologies.