Question

Web portals are now becoming the norm as they are mandated under the "Meaningful Use" criteria for involving the patients in their healthcare decision making. Discuss the benefits that a patients could derive from these web portals and how HIM professionals can benefit simultaneously?

Answer 1

Doctors have adopted the Health Information Management or Technology (HIM) since last couple of years. Doctors who responded quickly have qualified for EHR (Electronic Health Records) HER, incentive payments, for meeting of Meaningful Use of certified EHR technology. To encourage acceleration in EHR adoption, the Secretary announced that Health and Human Services (HHS) intends to continue doctors and hospitals to adopt HIM without meeting the new Meaningful Use requirements.

There are many benefits for early adopters of Meaningful Use. Providers are given additional time to implement new software and meet the new requirements, and vendors are given added time to develop certified EHR technologies. There is added incentive for providers to attest and receive the rewards of being an early participant. Those providers attesting will have two payment years under the less stringent criteria, rather than one year.

As the health care organizations reach Meaningful Use of EHRs that ultimately enable the exchange of critical information across a health care system, the health care system will realize improvements in individual and population health outcomes, increased transparency and efficiency, and improved ability to study and improve care delivery.

Workforce development roles across the nation are being created and new skill sets are being developed for health care professionals to support the implementation of EHRs, practice workflow redesign, and information management training.

Meaningful Use of EHRs is an initiative to expand, streamline, and improve the use of health information management in the country. The target for nationwide health care reform is to improve the quality of health of patient population which leads to more patient-centered, transparent and accountable care. This can be accomplished effectively through the wide-spread use of EHRs and exchange of health information.

Health Care providers will benefit from HIM because they will have accurate and complete information about a patient's health, this will enable the provider to give the best possible care. Providers will also have the ability to better coordinate the care they give, which is important if a patient has a serious medical condition. They will share information with patients and their family caregivers through secure information technology network communication. This means patients and their families can more fully participate in decisions about their own health care. In addition, health care providers will have information and data necessary to diagnose health problems, reduce medical errors, and provide safer care at lower costs. Communication between health professionals and health entities will become more efficient and effective.