[Merry Maker]

IOS Health Systems - First Physician in Puerto Rico Receives $18,000 Stimulus Check using Medios EHR System

IOS Health Systems (IOS), a leading innovator of web-based ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) and practice management software, announces that users of the their web-based Medios EHR are beginning to receive their initial stimulus payments.

MIAMI, FL, July 20, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- IOS Health Systems (IOS), a leading innovator of web-based ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) and practice management software, announces that users of the their web-based Medios EHR systems are beginning to receive their initial stimulus payments by demonstrating Meaningful Use as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Stage 1 Electronic Health Record Meaningful Use Medicare Incentive Program.

Aida L. Blasini Torres, MD, an Internal Medicine physician from San Juan, Puerto Rico is one of the first physicians in the country and the first physician in Puerto Rico to receive a check for $18,000 in stimulus incentives. Dr. Blasini qualified as an eligible provider and successfully demonstrated 90 continuous days of Meaningful Use, using Medios EHR demonstrating clinical, demographic, e-prescribing and quality reporting measures as required by CMS. On Thursday, June 16, in an official ceremony at the Regional Extension Center at the Puerto Rico Hospital Association Health Information Technology Seminar, Dr. Blasini's accomplishment was recognized. She was awarded with a Meaningful Use Vanguard Certificate and Medal from the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology for the advancement in the electronic delivery of healthcare. Dr. Blasini is the first physician in Puerto Rico to receive such an honor.

As part of CMS Incentive Program Dr. Blasini is also eligible to receive an incentive check of $12,000 next year by continuing to use Medios and receive additional stimulus incentive payments over the next 3 years.
Dr. Blasini stated, "After reviewing my options I chose Medios, because it offered me the most flexibility and it adapted towards my practice. The incentives were important to us, but also was the quality of care for my patients." She adds, "I am not computer savvy, but my staff and I found learning Medios to be extremely easy and the benefit to my patients was immediately evident upon implementation."

According to the 2009 HITECH Act, physicians are eligible to receive up to $44,000 in total incentives per physician from Medicare for "Meaningful Use" of a certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) starting in 2011. Physicians reimbursed by Medicaid can receive up to $63,750 starting in 2011 based on state-defined guidelines. In July 2010, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their rule for the Stage 1 Meaningful Use requirements that physicians need to meet in order to receive their Meaningful Use incentives.
Andrew Carricarte, IOS Health Systems President and CEO states, "Dr. Blasini and her practice have been a great example for their community. We are very proud to have been a part of their success. We anticipate over the next several months to have helped our Clients receive over $5,000,000 in incentive payments."

[EMRexpert]

Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUV) honors Karl Hempel, M.D. for successful execution of EHR.

Dec. 8, 2011, 7:00 a.m. EST

Tallahassee Doctor Recognized by the Center for the Advancement of Health IT as a Leader in Electronic Health Records Implementation

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Karl Hempel, M.D. of Tallahassee Primary Care Associates (TPCA) was recognized today by The Center for the Advancement of Health IT (AHIT) for his leadership in the nationwide transition from paper based patient medical records to Electronic Health Records (EHRs). AHIT is the Regional Extension Center designated by the Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator to assist clinicians in northern and southwestern Florida with becoming meaningful users of EHRs. Today, AHIT is pleased to welcome Dr. Hempel into an exclusive group of leaders - the Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUV). Dr. Hempel and TPCA are among the first healthcare providers in northern Florida to adopt this technology.

MUV is a national program that is designed to honor clinicians like Dr. Hempel who have successfully implemented EHRs. MUVers (members of the MUV program) serve as local leaders and advisors in the nation's transition toward an electronically-enabled health care system.

EHR technology is a critical component of an interconnected patient-centric system of care where patients, physicians, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, payers and others securely share data to reduce inefficiencies and improve the quality of patient care.

"This MUVment Ceremony is an opportunity to showcase the most dramatic transformation of our healthcare system in decades," says Diane Gaddis, president and CEO of Community Health Centers Alliance, which operates the AHIT Regional Extension Center.

According to Dr. Hempel, "Technology is improving health care dramatically by giving physicians immediate access to more information so they can make better decisions about managing patient care."

Over 5,000 primary care providers in Florida, and over 100,000 providers nationwide, have made the commitment to adopt and use electronic health records (EHRs) in a meaningful way.

About AHIT AHIT was designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as having the knowledge and experience necessary to support health care providers on EHR adoption and meaningful use. AHIT is a program of Community Health Centers Alliance, Inc. (CHCA), a member-supported 501©(3) serving not-for-profit healthcare providers. CHCA has over a decade of experience in implementing and managing health information technology solutions, including EHRs.

CHCA wishes to acknowledge support from the Office of the National Coordinator, Department of Health and Human Services, Award #90RC0051/01.

SOURCE The Center for the Advancement of Health IT

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