WARWICK, R.I.Meaningful use is a vehicle to practice transformation," said Thomas Tsang, MD, MPH, medical director of meaningful use and quality at the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). He also noted that 17 vendors represent 87 percent of providers live on EHRs, during his keynote address, titled Beyond Meaningful Use," at Rhode Island Quality Institutes second annual Health IT Expo on May 18.

The first payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will be sent out this week, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Providers that have successfully attested to having met meaningful use and all the other program requirements, can expect to receive their 2011 incentive payments soon, the agency stated.

CMIO presents a weekly update of the EHR products certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs). The following EHR certifications were announced recently:

CMIO presents a sample of organizations that have achieved attestation for the Medicare/Medicaid EHR incentive program. 

GE Healthcare has shifted two members of its leadership team to differentiated product and service offerings within its healthcare unit.

Memorial Hermann Healthcare System has installed five Infinix-i vascular x-ray systems from Toshiba America Medical Systems.

The Kansas Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC), which serves as the federally designated Health IT Regional Extension Center (HITREC) for the state of Kansas, and works with physicians to improve the quality of healthcare provided in the state, has chosen e-MDs as an EHR vendor partner.

Here's one more reason to adopt an EHR: Research shows that doing so may be good for the planet. EHRs have a positive net effect on the environment, according to a study in the May issue of Health Affairs.