Electronic Health Records

Over the past decade, healthcare providers have been transitioning from paper to computerized medical records.  The recent federal economic stimulus legislation provides funding to accelerate this process.  The ultimate goal of the legislation is for everyone in the U.S. to have an electronic health record by 2014.

Electronic health records (EHR) are defined as an "electronic record of health-related information on an individual that includes patient demographics and clinical health information, such as medical history and problem lists; and has the capacity to provide clinical decision support, to support physician order entry, to capture and query information relevant to health care quality, and to exchange electronic health information with, and integrate such information from other sources." (2009 ARRA, pg. 115)

More background information on EHRs and health information technology can be found on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Information Technology (exit DHS) website.

Meaningful Use of EHRs
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act authorizes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide a reimbursement incentive for physician and hospital providers who are successful in becoming “meaningful users” of an EHR.  For more information on the Meaningful Use requirements, visit DHHS Health IT Meaningful Use site.

Wisconsin's Comments on Meaningful Use (PDF, 28KB) June 26, 2009

Reports

2008 Wisconsin Ambulatory Health Information Technology Survey (PDF, 144KB) March 31, 2009

2006-2007 Wisconsin Ambulatory Health Information Technology Survey (PDF, 496KB) November 20, 2007

Last Revised: September 23, 2009