Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Economic Recovery Package - Funding for Electronic Medical Records

As part of the Obama administration's economic recovery package, $19B will be spent to help accelerate the implemention electronic medical records in physician offices. The goal is to curb costs and provide better care through the efficiency of electronic medical records.

A recent New York Times article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/business/01unbox.html?_r=1) cites a study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicating that currently only 17% of all medical practices use computerized medical records. In larger practices, use of electronic medical records is widespread, but over 75% of physicians practice in small offices with 10 or fewer providers. The new funds are good news for the smaller practices who may be eligible for up to $40,000 in funding to help implement electronic records.

For more information regarding the economic recovery program, go to http://www.recovery.gov/.