Thinking About an EHR For Your Practice

• The successful transition from a paper- to electronic-based practice begins with developing an understanding of system functionality (what HIT actually does), analyzing the practice’s readiness to manage a new operating system, and preparing staff for this major change.
  

   

  Electronic Medical Record vs. Electronic Health Record 

  Is it Time for Your Practice to Adopt an EMR? (PDF)

  More Texas Physicians Turning to HIT (Action, Feb. 15, 2010)

  EHR or Not? (Action, Nov. 16, 2012)    

  EMR Readiness Assessment
  This readiness worksheet will provide you with an overview of your organization’s ability to successfully adopt an electronic medical record (EMR) solution. 

  Open Source Software (PDF)

Finding the Right EHR for Your Practice

• With hundreds of EHR products, the marketplace offers a robust choice, and selecting a system that is right for your practice depends heavily on understanding the practice’s needs before seriously discussing a purchase with vendors. When the time comes to buy a system, emphasizing functionality and the practice’s readiness assessment can help vendors show you the product characteristics that create value for you and your practice.
  

   

  Measure Twice, Cut Once: Be Careful Choosing an EMR (Texas Medicine, Oct. 2010)   

  EHR vendors most used in Texas - March 2012 (PDF)

  Certified HIT Product List (CHPL) - (ONC)

  EHR Product Evaluation Tool   
  Need help finding the right EMR for your practice? Texas Medical Association (TMA) physician members have overwhelmingly indicated to us they need help when it comes to health information technology. They specifically want help with electronic medical record (EMR) selection. TMA is here to help.

  Questions for EHR Vendors
  Learn some of the important questions to ask vendors during the selection process.

  Questions for EHR Vendor References
  What questions should you ask when speaking to another practice that currently uses the EHR vendor you are considering?

  How to do an RFP for an EHR (PDF)

  EHR Buyer Beware: Issues to Consider When Contracting with EHR Vendors
  This paper discusses eight important EHR contract terms your medical practice should consider before signing an EHR contract.

  Guide to Licensing and Service Agreements (PDF) - Contracting guidelines

  15 questions to ask before signing an EMR/EHR agreement – Resource provided by the AMA

  Other Vendor Comparisons  

  AmericanEHR Partners  

  AAFP's vendor comparison tool (requires AAFP log in)

  AAP's vendor rating link  

  KLAS — Compare EMR Vendors

What If I Need Help?

• Need help? Look to the Regional Extension Centers.
  

   

  Regional Extension Centers (RECs) have been established across the country to assist physicians with selection, implementation, and meaningful use of an electronic health record to ensure eligible physicians meet the requirements needed to earn the EHR incentive bonus. 

  Four regional extension centers are operating in Texas and provide subsidized consulting services to physicians. Visit the TMA REC page for more details on location, eligibility and contact information.

Financing Your Technology

• Be sure you investigate multiple financing options to ensure you have received the most ideal solution for your practice.
  

   

  Net Revenue Calculator - MGMA

  Financing Options (PDF)

  Rural Health Information Technology Resource Center 
   

  In August 2006, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General announced expanded exceptions to the Stark regulations and additional safe harbors in the antikickback laws that are expected to encourage the adoption of electronic prescribing and electronic health record (EHR) technology. 

  Stark Law Exemptions and Electronic Health Records (PDF)

  Stark Law Rules - AMA

   

Implementation

• Introducing an HIT system into a practice requires a team effort, and before making any formal decisions, begin preparing your team. The careful, team-based redesign of work process is mission-critical to the success of HIT acquisition.
  

   

  EHR Project Management Checklist (PDF) - DOQ-IT

  EHR Critical Success Factors (PDF) - DOQ-IT

  Report: Don’t Skimp on EHR Training (Action, July 2, 2012)

  EHR Workflow Analysis, Redesign Critical (Action, Nov. 16, 2011) 

EHR Incentive Program

• The $19 billion in funding for health information technology (HIT) in the federal economic stimulus bill offers some big promises to physicians who use electronic medical records (EMRs) in a "meaningful" way. There are incentives for physicians who treat Medicare and/or Medicaid patients. If a physician participates in the Medicare and Medicaid program, they can receive incentives from only one program. TMA encourages physicians to proceed with caution and tap into our available resources to make wise decisions regarding EMR selection and implementation.
  

   

  EHR Incentive Program Resource Center

Report Safety Concerns About Your EHR

• Have you had issues with your electronic health record (EHR) or the vendor? Are you concerned your patients' safety may be affected? The EHR Support Center is designed to collect data related to EHR products and to document potential or identified patient safety and usability issues.
  

   

  EHR Support Center 

  The Texas A&M Health Science Center Rural and Community Health Institute has partnered with the PDR Network to give physicians an opportunity to report EHR-related patient safety events. Both are accredited patient safety organizations that seek to improve the quality and safety of health care. Data are entered into a protected database and used for research to find weak points in health care delivery.
  
  EHR issues that you may want to report include problems with product applications, vendor-related difficulties, or contractual issues that resulted in a less-than-optimal or undesired outcome. The tool also enables physicians to report features of EHRs that they feel are best practices. Collection of the data will help improve patient safety and quality as physicians adopt, implement, and use EHRs.

Security

• Protect your practice from health information leaks or breaches, and know what to do if they occur.
  

   

  HIT Security Risk Assessment Questionnaire (ONC)

  Online encryption guide launched by AMA 

  New Privacy Rules for Electronic Patient Records 

Case Studies

• Read the following case studies to find out how other physicians managed the transition to an EHR.
  

   

  Case Study: Change Is Good

  Case Study: The Networking Element

  Case Study: Small Town Success

  Case Study: Using Technology from Day One  

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