What are the benefits of working with a Regional Extension Center?
The Basics
Regional Extension Centers (RECs) are equipped with the personnel and resources to support and advise eligible providers in all phases of the electronic health record (EHR) implementation cycle. Their broad, practical health IT expertise will help you implement an EHR system and achieve meaningful use.
Benefits of Working with Your Local Regional Extension Center
This national network of RECs acts as a two-way pipeline, connecting providers to local and federal resources on health IT, EHR implementation, and meaningful use. REC support is geared to organization's specific needs and goes beyond health IT mechanics, helping your organization:
- Identify financial resources, such as grant opportunities and negotiated preferred interest rates
- Easily navigate the EHR vendor marketplace through the REC’s system-neutral counsel or qualified/preferred vendor lists
- Implement and use EHRs in a meaningful way so that patient information is secure, data is available when and where you need it, and care is coordinated across provider teams
- Achieve meaningful use objectives, maximize incentives and minimize financial and administrative burdens associated with EHR implementation
- Encourage employees to embrace the changes associated with EHR implementation
- Build relationships with vendors, state agencies, Health Information Exchange coordinators and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- Prepare for future health care initiatives, such as pay for performance and Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) initiatives
Contact Your Local Regional Extension Center
RECs are located in every region of the country to help health care providers select, implement, and become adept and meaningful users of electronic health records (EHRs). Contact your local REC to find out if you are eligible for free or reduced-price local EHR implementation support.
For More Information
For more information about RECs and how RECs can help you achieve meaningful use, see the following resources.
Implementing EHRs – Introduction
Moving Beyond the Paper Record
With electronic health records (EHRs), patients' health information is available in one place, when and where it is needed, so you can do a better job of managing...
The Basics
Using electronic health records (EHRs) can help your organization build a sustainable medical practice. While EHRs do require investments for technology and training, a fully functional...
The Recovery Act allows for adjustments to the Medicare physician fee
schedule for Medicare providers who do not adopt and successfully demonstrate
meaningful use of a certified electronic health...
If Medicare eligible professionals, or EPs, do not adopt and successfully
demonstrate meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) technology by 2015, the
EP’s Medicare...
Health IT and electronic health records (EHRs) can help doctors provide patients with access to their health information, improve care coordination, and provide higher quality and safer care for...
Now is The Time
NOW is the time to for electronic health record (EHR) adoption– there is an unprecedented amount of help available.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is making...
Advising Providers in All Phases of Electronic Health Record ImplementationRegional Extension Centers (RECs) are equipped with the personnel and resources to support and advise eligible providers in...
The Basics
Regional Extension Centers (RECs) are equipped with the personnel and resources to support and advise eligible providers in all phases of the electronic health record (EHR) implementation...
The Basics
The Regional Extension Center (REC) program’s focus is to provide on-the-ground assistance for priority primary care providers.
A primary care provider is any doctor of medicine or...
The Health Resources Services Administration defines telehealth as the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and...
The Basics
There are many forms of telehealth – such as live-interactive videoconferencing, remote monitoring, store-and-forward imaging, and provider education. Many different types of care...
Improving Public and Population Health Outcomes
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve public and population health outcomes. By efficiently collecting data in a form that can be shared across...
Momentum is Building
The electronic health record (EHR) movement continues to build momentum. By 2011, approximately 39% of office-based providers and 35% of non-federal acute care hospitals had...
What is a Patient-Centered Medical Home?
A Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a team-based model of care that begins with the primary care provider and coordinates care across multiple...
Transformed Health Care
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are the first step to transformed health care. The benefits of electronic health records include:
Better health care by improving all aspects...
Electronic Medical Records
Electronic medical records (EMRs) are digital versions of the paper charts in clinician offices, clinics, and hospitals. EMRs contain notes and information collected by...
Moving Beyond the Paper Record
With electronic health records (EHRs), patients' health information is available in one place, when and where it is needed, so you can do a better job of managing...
The Basics
Using electronic health records (EHRs) can help your organization build a sustainable medical practice. While EHRs do require investments for technology and training, a fully functional...
The Recovery Act allows for adjustments to the Medicare physician fee
schedule for Medicare providers who do not adopt and successfully demonstrate
meaningful use of a certified electronic health...
If Medicare eligible professionals, or EPs, do not adopt and successfully
demonstrate meaningful use of a certified electronic health record (EHR) technology by 2015, the
EP’s Medicare...
Health IT and electronic health records (EHRs) can help doctors provide patients with access to their health information, improve care coordination, and provide higher quality and safer care for...
Now is The Time
NOW is the time to for electronic health record (EHR) adoption– there is an unprecedented amount of help available.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is making...
Advising Providers in All Phases of Electronic Health Record ImplementationRegional Extension Centers (RECs) are equipped with the personnel and resources to support and advise eligible providers in...
The Basics
Regional Extension Centers (RECs) are equipped with the personnel and resources to support and advise eligible providers in all phases of the electronic health record (EHR) implementation...
The Basics
The Regional Extension Center (REC) program’s focus is to provide on-the-ground assistance for priority primary care providers.
A primary care provider is any doctor of medicine or...
The Health Resources Services Administration defines telehealth as the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and...
The Basics
There are many forms of telehealth – such as live-interactive videoconferencing, remote monitoring, store-and-forward imaging, and provider education. Many different types of care...
Improving Public and Population Health Outcomes
Electronic health records (EHRs) can improve public and population health outcomes. By efficiently collecting data in a form that can be shared across...
Momentum is Building
The electronic health record (EHR) movement continues to build momentum. By 2011, approximately 39% of office-based providers and 35% of non-federal acute care hospitals had...
What is a Patient-Centered Medical Home?
A Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a team-based model of care that begins with the primary care provider and coordinates care across multiple...
Transformed Health Care
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are the first step to transformed health care. The benefits of electronic health records include:
Better health care by improving all aspects...
Electronic Medical Records
Electronic medical records (EMRs) are digital versions of the paper charts in clinician offices, clinics, and hospitals. EMRs contain notes and information collected by...