A proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) changes the Conditions of Participation for nursing homes and long-term care facilities 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 and they would be able to purchase copies of their medical records. Facilities are "encouraged" to explore how EHRs can support efforts to develop and share standardized discharge summaries and the rule 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.

CMS was clear about its goals, saying it intends to "recognize the advent of electronic health information technology and to accommodate and support adoption of ONC certified health IT and interoperable standards. We believe that the use of such technology can effectively and efficiently help facilities and other providers improve internal care delivery practices, support the exchange of important information across care team members [including patients and caregivers] during transitions of care, and enable reporting of electronically specified clinical quality measures [eCQMs]."

CMS also recommends that facilities electronically capturing information do so using certified health IT that allows for "real time" electronic exchange with other providers. "By utilizing certified health IT, facilities can ensure that they are transmitting interoperable data that can be used by other settings, supporting more robust care coordination and higher quality care for patients," CMS wrote.

Read the proposed rule.