What is Meaningful Use Certification
The first stage of Meaningful Use (MU) certification is Capture and Share. This requires capturing electronic health information and using those data to track and communicate clinical conditions. These data elements are specific to Eligible Professionals (EP’s). Virtually all referring/ordering physicians and most Radiologists are eligible as EP’s. For a radiologist to qualify as an EP they must have interpreted fewer than 10% of exams for inpatient and emergency department patients, with this 90% non hospital based reading the radiologist may qualify as an EP.
There are a total of 25 requirements which need to be met in order for the EP to become eligible for incentive funds. These requirements have been divided into 15 core requirements and 10 discretionary requirements. Of the discretionary requirements, 5 must be met, for a total of 20 requirements needed by the EP. For radiologists, there appears to be a significant number of exclusions as well. However, for them to qualify they must have a fully certified EHR, capable of meeting all 25 requirements.
What are the anticipated Benefits for EP and for non-EP based imaging operations?
• Allows Radiologists to take advantage of the $1B+ in incentive funds by using medQ’s fully certified Radiology EHR
• Allows Radiologists who have an EHR now to begin providing the necessary information to allow full MU adherence with the modular EHR
• Allows non-radiologist owned facilities to provide the necessary information back to their ordering physicians to enable them to comply and benefit from MU incentive funds.
• Enable radiologists to use healthcare IT solutions that improve quality and reduce cost of providing healthcare
• Creates the platform for using standardized format and fields to foster the exchange of data to ultimately reach Stage 3 where electronic tools should be in use to enhance clinical decision-making, improve patient self-management and encourage “wellness” activities”.
medQ’s Meaningful Use EHR Certification Plan
medQ will develop and offer a full Q/ris EHR module which will be fully and seamlessly integrated into the current Q/ris 3000 workflow management software. The Q/ris EHR will take advantage of the current Q/ris 3000 functionality and move data to populate the EHR fields automatically, thus avoiding any duplicate data entry. This will begin with modular certification in Phase I of our process. In Phase II, medQ will have “Complete Certification” of Q/ris EHR to support fully the Stage 1 MU Requirements.
• Phase I – will be to certify all the elements required (see attachment 1) for imaging centers/hospitals which already have in place an EHR. This will support collection and transmission of all the data required by the EHR. In addition the Q/ris EHR supports electronic order entry for radiology orders.
• Phase II – this will be the full Q/ris 3000 EHR meeting all 25 data elements required, and will be considered a fully certified EHR.
• The Q/ris EHR will be sold as an optional, add on Module to Q/ris 3000. No additional hardware will be required.
• Full interfacing will be available to send/receive information to other systems in the market – will have universal connectivity.
Q/ris EHR Target market:
• Outpatient Imaging Centers/Mobile Imaging with or without an EHR. These can be radiologist owned and operated or non-radiologist owned. If not a radiologist owned the facility will be able to transmit the proper information to their referring physician base to ensure they have the data needed to support their MU requirements.
• Radiology reading groups
• Small to medium sized hospitals, with or without their own EHR
Q/ris EHR MU Certification Timeline
• Phase 1 – Modular Certification
• Beta test site selection and set up December 2011
• Certification (via Drummond) December 2011
• Phase 2 -- fully certified EHR Module
• Beta test site by end of 1st Quarter 2012
• Completed certification 2nd Quarter 2012
• General availability July 2012
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