Charlevoix Area Hospital reaches national milestone
Charlevoix Area Hospital has successfully completed the second stage of federal program.
Charlevoix Area Hospital recently announced that it is among just 17 percent of hospitals nationwide to successfully attest to Meaningful Use Stage Two, the federal government’s comprehensive program to move all health care providers from paper to secure electronic patient records.
The three-stage Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program rewards hospitals and eligible professionals with financial incentives for the meaningful use of certified Electronic Health Record technology to improve patient care. Providers must show that they are meaningfully using their Electronic Health Records by meeting specific objectives for each stage in order to receive the substantial financial incentives.
The Meaningful Use program is phased in three stages with increasing requirements and each stage having its own goals, priorities and measurements. It was developed as a result of the belief that electronic health records can improve quality and safety of patient care, as well as improve the coordination of care among health care professionals. Achieving “meaningful use” means that the provider is able to show they are using certified Electronic Health Record technology in ways that can be measured not only in quantity, but in quality.
Stage Two began in 2014 and focuses on the electronic exchange of health care information between providers. One of the most significant benefits is that it gives patients the opportunity to securely access their own health care information online, at their own convenience, at home or abroad. Not only can they access their own information, any health care provider they choose can access it as well. The requirements of successful implementation of Stage Two are substantial.
Charlevoix Area Hospital’s “MyCAH Patient Portal” is a direct response to Stage Two. It allows patients to retrieve clinical information, current medications, immunizations, health issues, allergies, lab results, procedures, prescription renewal requests, appointment requests, discharge instructions and patient education, as well as providing a secure method to view, download and transmit the information.
“This is a big deal,” said Lyn Jenks, Charlevoix Area Hospital CEO. “To date, only 840 hospitals across the nation, most of which are much larger and possess considerably more resources than ours, have successfully attested to Meaningful Use Stage Two. And as of September, only 38 percent of eligible hospitals have even attested to Stage One. We are very proud of the work our staff has done to meet the requirements of both Stage One and Stage Two, and we are certain the results will show in increased quality and safety for our patients.”
Chris Wilhelm, chief operating officer of Charlevoix Area Hospital, agrees.
“The privacy and security of our patients is of the utmost importance; they come first. This technology gives us the opportunity to keep their health information secure while increasing efficiency and reducing the possibility of errors. We’ve all joked about the reputation some doctors have for their illegible handwriting, but honestly, electronic prescriptions and medical records will go a long way to reducing errors.”
Stage Three, for which requirements are still being developed, is scheduled to begin in 2016.
