Industry Experts Explore Electronic Health Records
Charleston, WV - Physicians and industry experts from across the state gathered in South Charleston Oct. 21 to learn more about moving their offices from paper-based health records to computerized health systems that can improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care.About 100 attended the conference, “The Future Starts Now: Making the Move to Electronic Health Records,” which was co-sponsored by the West Virginia Academy of Family Physicians and the West Virginia Medical Institute.
The conference was a direct result of national and state momentum for using health information technology to improve care. President Bush, for example, has called for the health care community to switch from paper to electronic health records within 10 years.
“The West Virginia health care community has shown tremendous interest in electronic health records and their potential for transforming the way care is delivered, ” said Mark Stephens, MD, Health Care Quality Improvement Program Director for WVMI. “The conference is a step toward helping physicians move from interest to action.”
As the state’s federally designated Quality Improvement Organization, the West Virginia Medical Institute has been charged by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide technical assistance to physicians interested in health information technology.
During the conference at the Ramada Inn, a panel of experts offered tips to physicians considering purchasing electronic health records, and software vendors provided hands-on demonstrations. Participants also learned from physicians who have already made the transition from paper medical charts to computers.
Gerry Stover, the Director of the West Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, said West Virginia physicians are actively involved in looking at electronic health records as a vehicle to improve patient care and promote office efficiencies.
“Primary care physicians in West Virginia are interested in moving to electronic health records to improve patient care, especially in the area of chronic disease management,” said Stover. “Physicians attending today’s conference now have current information that will help them make wise decisions about EHR systems.”
Attendees included physicians, medical directors, clinical office staff, office managers and technology vendors.
David Campbell, the Executive Director of the Community Health Network of West Virginia, moderated a physician panel discussion. Other speakers included Palmetto GBA-Medicare Part B Community Education Administrator Timothy Allman, Executive Director of the EHR Group Michael Uretz, and Director of the Center for Rural Health Development Inc. Sharon Lansdale.