Consultants have always had their hands full trying to juggle the wide variety of practice-management questions that their clients have thrown at them. Now, their jobs have become even more complicated. Faced with the challenges of the government’s EMR incentive program, practices are looking to consultants for guidance on that complex topic as well. Given these expanded expectations, it has become difficult for consultants to keep up-to-date in all areas. So, how do consultants make sure they are offering the reliable and complete information that practices need to make the best EMR decision?
Let me offer some suggestions to consultants whose advice and guidance is being sought. To evaluate the impact of the government’s EMR program, make sure that you:
- Communicate that the legislation makes participation in the EMR Stimulus Program voluntary. This is not a government-mandated program;
- Closely follow the meetings and decisions of the HIT Policy and Standards Committees to keep current on the still-evolving regulations;
- Understand the actual role that CCHIT plays and the alternative certification options under consideration;
- Be well-versed in the most current “meaningful use” matrix;
- Fully explain the costs associated with meeting the meaningful use requirements and compare these costs with the hoped-for incentives;
- Help physicians make a realistic assessment of the likelihood that they will successfully demonstrate “meaningful use” as required;
- Insist your client initial each component of the “meaningful use” matrix to clear you of future liability for making a recommendation with which the physician might not comply; and
- Construct a realistic ROI analysis including total cost—initial software and hardware investment, support and maintenance, and impact on productivity—and evaluate alternative options.
If you are a consultant who recognizes your fiduciary responsibility to provide factual information to your practices, or a physician or administrator who would like to confirm that your understanding of the legislation is complete, SRS offers the educational resources of its Government Affairs Department. I invite you to visit the Economic Stimulus section of our website, take the Stimulus IQ Test, or call SRS Government Affairs at 201.802.1300 ext.1229.
Related posts:
