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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

The Arrow through Your Head

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I have taken a break from health reform politicking to return to some essentials about health IT.

” The definition of a pioneer is “the guy with the arrow through his head.”

This was just one of the 'takeaways" at a recent seminar hosted in San Diego regarding the IT stimulus money train.

 

  • The feds have not defined “meaningful user” or “certified” yet; they are key requirements of the plan.

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    MEANINGFUL USER IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER. ONLY PART OF THE DEFINITION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, AND NOT BY THE USERS THEMSELVES....TIME WILL TELL WHICH AND WHAT IS MEANINGFUL AND IT MAY TURN OUT THAT MEANINFUL (DEFINITION) WILL CHANGE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

    ARE WE GOING TO BE CAST INTO A USELESS MOLD?

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  • Financial incentives, even the full $44,000 available, are not going to cover your investment.
  • The cost difference between implementing in 2012 versus 2011 is only $5,000 less (paid out over 5 years). That year could be huge. The definition of an early adopter is the “bug on the windshield of progress.” The definition of a pioneer is “the guy with the arrow through his head.” One year to let others make the mistakes may save you much more than $5,000.

    WHY ARE THE FEDS IN SUCH A HURRY WITH CUT OFF DATES AND PENALTIES FOR NOT IMPLEMENTING HIT AND EHR BY 2012???

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    COULD IT BE THAT THE FEDS ARE IN BED WITH SOME BIG IT PLAYERS???  ALLSCRIPTS IS BUSY RUNNING NATIONAL SEMINARS ON 'HOW TO" (DIP INTO THE FEDERAL TREASURY)

    DON'T SPEND MY MONEY!!!

  • If you implement a bad process, you still have a bad process. Now is the time to dig into your operations, make them better, and THEN automate.
  • There are four “I”s that are key in shopping for an EHR/EMR:
    • Implementation—This is the hardest part; it can sink you, and the vendors may not there for the long haul.
    • Identity—How are you going to secure your data? Big penalties for doing it badly.
    • Interoperability—Will it work with a MAC, your hardware, your PM system?
    • Intersection—Will it work with the hospital/s, or the IPA/s, or any other of the as-yet-unnamed entities that will be required? THANKS TO MODERN MEDICINE, AND JUDY BEE
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