According to the federal government, the outlook for healthcare professionals achieving acceptable levels of Stage 2 meaningful use is not well. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported recently that a total of four hospitals have met the standards for Stage 2 of electronic health records (EHR).
Hospitals that have enrolled in the federal EHR incentive payment program are not meeting the 90 days of consecutive Stage 2 requirements. Apparently, too many hospitals are not able to handle the pressures associated with establishing EHR programs that cut the mustard. When it comes to hospital data, most of the nation is behind by a long shot and running the risk of being shorted on their Medicare reimbursements as a penalty.
Healthcare providers that have completed between two and three years of meaningful use at Stage 1 are tasked with completing 90 days of meaningful use at Stage 2, which is more focused on radiology than what was required in Stage 1. Obviously, as the attestations have revealed, few providers are meeting the requirements. Of those medical professionals who have completed their two or three years of Stage 1 of the Medicare EHR incentive program, they have until the end of this year to step up and complete their 90 consecutive days with Stage 2 requirements.
Why is this a big deal? Consider that 90 percent of hospitals in the U.S. are taking or have taken reimbursements under Medicare, which means a majority of the healthcare professionals in this country are highly reliant on the government assistance that many Americans receive for their healthcare needs. With nearly $23 billion in payments going out each year, nobody can afford to miss out on these funds.
Hospital data issues have been a thorn in the side of radiologists everywhere, but especially in the rural areas where resources are limited and new technologies can place a heavy burden on already taxed medical facilities. Stage 2 is expected to have quite an impact on how healthcare providers look at their current Picture Archiving Communication Systems (PACS). Some providers are using equipment that has become a dinosaur and is getting pushed to do things it was never built to process.
What more providers need to consider is technology that doesn’t require them to invest massive amounts of money in new hardware and software. They need to consider solutions that integrate seamlessly with their current PACS while significantly boosting their ability to comply with Stage 2.
One company that is helping healthcare providers address the radiology needs required of them in Stage 2 is OffSite Image Management, Inc. Our solutions are a perfect match for providers large and small, but are especially attractive to the rural facilities that want the best solutions without the highest price tag attached to it. OffSite delivers with a service that only charges for what is used – no more, no less. For more information, contact us today.
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