Laying the groundwork
After much discussion, debate and calls for more kinds of providers to be a part of Meaningful Use and efforts to increase interoperability, this week a proposed rule was issued that lays the groundwork for nursing and long-term care facilities to use EHRs and exchange information.
The rule would change the Conditions of Participation for nursing homes and long-term care facilities--not requiring them to adopt EHRs but allowing for residents to access their records lays the groundwork for the future use of EHRs and information exchange.
The proposed rule does not require nursing homes and long-term care facilities to adopt EHRs but allows for residents to access their records. It also encourages these facilities to explore how EHRs can support efforts to develop and share standardized discharge summaries as well as proposes a common clinical dataset to electronically share summary of care records. Also, facilities would be required to conduct annual assessments, including an evaluation of health IT resources and electronic data sharing.
Will the rule become finalized and is it what the industry needs?
Beth Walsh
Clinical Innovation + Technology editor
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.