The following is written by Marion K. Jenkins, PhD, FHIMSS, founder and CEO of QSE Technologies.
Recently at the ASC Association annual conference in Orlando, I gave a presentation on EHRs in ASCs. There were several questions about the role of ARRA/HITECH, and its applicability to ambulatory surgery centers.
ARRA/HITECH is the legislation passed in 2009 that provides funds for the adoption and use of EHRs in healthcare. It provides incentives to physicians of $44,000-$64,000 each, and hospitals up to several million, depending on certain qualification criteria and the mix of Medicare and Medicaid billing.
Currently ARRA/HITECH does not address ASCs, so many of the questions revolved around whether EHRs have a business case in ASCs. It is my assertion that they do, irrespective of the current situation that more or less leaves ASCs out of the picture.
This has caused many in the ASC industry to shun EMRs, with the reasoning being that since ARRA/HITECH doesn't currently pertain to ASCs, then EMRs are not a good idea.
Two important criteria for ARRA/HITECH involve using a "certified" EHR system, and demonstrating "meaningful use."
The meaningful use criteria are too lengthy to address in detail here, but a few of them have specific relevance to ASCs, and some in particular should be embraced strongly by the ASC community.
ASCs in particular should be attuned to and interested in many of the aspects of the meaningful use criteria. ASCs are constantly interested in collecting and reporting clinical and operational data and managing costs. It is very difficult to report on such criteria if the data is not collected in structured form, and in particular in a digital format through an EMR.
For example, one of the meaningful use criteria involves quality reporting. The meaningful use requirements follow the principles involved with PQRI (Physician Quality Reporting Initiative).
Quality data has — or should have — special significance to ASC operators and managers. The PQRI guidelines outlined in the meaningful use guidelines are relevant to ASCs' desire to prove their value to carriers, to patients and to potential investors and partners.
The use of technology — including the use of EMRs — is increasingly being viewed by patients as being linked to quality clinical outcomes. Most patients expect to see the kind of technology when they go to an ASC or other physician-owned facility as they see in a fine hospital. Indeed, patients are increasingly expecting to see and experience the same kind and level of technology in the healthcare setting that they see everywhere else, including checking in for an airline flight, tracking a package across the United States or ordering a pizza.
Unfortunately healthcare has traditionally lagged these other industries in its adoption of automation and information technologies. So ASCs have a unique opportunity to lead out in the adoption of technology and EMRs, and embrace quality guidelines, even though ARRA/HITECH doesn't presently apply to ASCs.
Marion K. Jenkins, PhD, FHIMSS, is founder and CEO of QSE Technologies, which provides IT consulting and implementation services for ASCs and other medical facilities nationwide. Learn more about QSE Technologies at www.qsetech.com or contact Mr. Jenkins at marion.jenkins@qsetech.com.
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