Chicago Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

EHR

What are the benefits of EHRs?

 For Providers:

Why is now the time to work with CHITREC?

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or "the stimulus bill," provides additional Medicaid and Medicare payments to physicians that demonstrate "Meaningful EHR Use" – the foundation of successful EHR implementation.

Why is implementing electronic health records important?

EHRs and health information exchange can help clinicians provide higher quality and safer care for their patients and create tangible enhancements for their practices. By adopting electronic health records in a meaningful way, clinicians can:

For primary health care providers, what are the challenges in implementing electronic health records?

Primary care providers may face daunting, yet not insurmountable, challenges when it comes to implementing EHRs in their practices, including:

How will CHITREC assist providers in achieving meaningful use?

General and technical assistance will be provided to all participating practices. A customized roadmap will be developed for each participant based on the results of a readiness assessment that will be completed at the early stages of participation. Participants will receive tailored assistance for achieving meaningful use based on their assessment.
 

When will CHITREC services begin?

Services will begin in June 2010, once funding is distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services. In the interim, interested providers and practices are encouraged to contact CHITREC at: [email protected]

What services will CHITREC provide?

CHITREC brings together a range of standard and individualized services and access to resources for HIT implementation.
 
CHITREC services include:
 
·     Education and training

·     Meaningful Use gap analysis

·     Needs assessment / RFP development

What is CHITREC's service area?

The CHITREC serving area addresses more than 2,400 primary care providers in the concentrated 606xx zip code area. The majority of these PCPs care for the under/uninsured and medically underserved in Chicago.
 

Who is CHITREC?

The Chicago Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (CHITREC) is a partnership among Northwestern University, the Alliance of Chicago Community Health Services and more than 40 local and national collaborators focused on HIT adoption and use needs within the city of Chicago. CHITREC is a local service organization, specifically serving the 606xx zip code region in Chicago, and provides a range of services to primary care providers interested in achieving meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHR).

What are the Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers?

The HIT Regional Extension Centers were established as part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, (Title IV in Division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) authorizing financial incentives to Medicare and Medicaid providers' who achieve meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology and are funded through as award from the Office of the National Coordinator, Department of Health and Human Services.