Another New Governmental Machination?
[By Staff Reporters]
A Regional (health information) Extension Center [REC] is similar to a Health Information Organization [HIO] that brings together healthcare stakeholders within a defined geographic area and governs Health Information Exchange [HIE] among them for the purpose of improving health and care in that community.
Fundamental to this definition is the meaning of Health Information Exchange and Health Information Organization. A Health Information Organization (HIO) is an organization that oversees and governs the exchange of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards.
Thus, the goal of an REC is to act as a local support organization to help doctors install electronic health records and use them to achieve improved quality, efficiency, and continuity of care.
Past and Present
The RECs are based on the example of agricultural extension offices, established over 100 years ago by Congress, which offered rural outreach and educational services across the country.
Today, the HITECH Act amends Title XXX of the Public Health Service Act by adding Section 3012, Health Information Technology Implementation Assistance. This section provides supportive services for the rest of the HITECH Act. Section 3012 (a) establishes the Health Information Technology Extension Program (Extension Program). The Extension Program provides grants for the establishment of Health Information Technology
Assessment
Link: Regional Extension Center
Link: HIT Extension Program – Regional Centers Cooperative Agreement Program
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:
- DICTIONARIES: http://www.springerpub.com/Search/marcinko
- PHYSICIANS: www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com
- PRACTICES: www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
- HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
- CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
- ADVISORS: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
- BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com
- FINANCE:Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
- INSURANCE:Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors
Filed under: Breaking News, Career Development, Health Economics, Information Technology | Tagged: health information exchange, Health Information Organization, health information technology, Health Information Technology Extension Program, HIE, HIO, HIT, HITECH Act, HR 3200, Information Technology, Public Health Service Act, REC, Regional Extension Center, RHIO, Title XXX |
Regional healthcare business models, like the Geisinger model, may not be transferable to the rest of the country.
“I really wish President Obama would stop holding them up as a model, because it’s just not readily, broadly applicable,” said David Nash, dean of the Jefferson School of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University and a longtime proponent of basing medical care on proven science.
Nash said Washington reformers should focus on ideas that would work for the vast majority of hospitals, not unusual systems.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer: Oct. 18, 2009
LikeLike
RECs forge ahead after halt of federal funding
With a focus on financial sustainability, regional extension centers will leverage partnerships and collaborations for future endeavors.
http://www.medicalpracticeinsider.com/news/recs-plan-forge-ahead-after-halt-federal-funding?email=MARCINKOADVISORS@MSN.COM&GroupID=90115
Hope R. Hetico RN MHA
LikeLike