Newly Formed Alliance to Help HIT Extension Centers

The American Medical Group Association, the Medical Group Management Association, and Perot Systems Corporation recently announced the formation of an alliance that will offer EHR-related training and implementation services to newly established HIT Regional Extension Centers.

The alliance will use the combined healthcare industry expertise, technology capabilities, and market presence of each organization to offer a comprehensive suite of educational and technical services to organizations that are designated by Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an Extension Center. The services provided by the alliance will better enable Extension Centers to immediately help a wide array of physicians and healthcare organizations prepare for EHR implementation and meaningful use requirements.

The HIT Regional Extension Program was created with the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Once established, the Extension Centers will provide technical assistance and disseminate best practices regarding HIT implementation. HHS plans to establish up to 70 Extension Centers, with the target being the least advantaged providers struggling with implementation and adoption, including public and critical access hospitals, Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers, rural providers, and physician practices focused on primary care.

The alliance will strive to help designated Extension Centers by offering a range of services, including the following:
 
• Physician and healthcare organization targeting and outreach;
 
• Incentive program and EHR-product education and awareness;
 
• EHR subscription-based solutions;
 
• Remote hosting services;
 
• Health Information Exchanges (HIE) services;
 
• Remote Implementation;
 
• Remote training; and
 
• Clinic-centric support desk.
 
Source: Perot Systems Corporation