INHS ANNOUNCES MEMBER HOSPITALS EARN STAGE 1 "MEANINGFUL USE"

Yesterday afternoon, we received this release from INHS announcing that 12 of their hospitals have earned the “Meaningful Use” status for their implementation of EMRs. INHS provides a service to hospitals and large-to-medium health care organizations to adopt HIT with as low of a transitional cost as possible.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act set in motion an incentive process for adoption of EMRs, which in turn created a set of standards for utilization called “Meaningful Use.”  Once achieved, the federal government offers incentive payments that help offset the transitional costs for the adoption.

From the release:

“INHS continues to provide the expertise and resources needed to position our hospital to reach this meaningful use attestation milestone,” said Harry Geller, administrator for Othello Community Hospital, a critical-access hospital more than 100 miles west of Spokane. “This creates an opportunity for our region’s hospitals and community members to benefit as part of our ongoing efforts to remain at the forefront of technology adoption.”

Part of a national program to increase and improve technology usage in health care, more than $40 million will be awarded to the 12 hospitals through the government sponsored EHR incentive programs.

“With decreasing reimbursements, hospitals must look for innovative and more efficient ways to improve patient care,” said Tom Fritz, chief executive officer of INHS.  “Our region’s hospitals are committed to advancing health information technology solutions to achieve the highest levels of patient outcomes and continuity of care.  We are proud of their accomplishments in achieving meaningful use criteria and look forward to helping other hospitals achieve the same benefits. ”

The following hospitals on the INHS network have achieved meaningful use:

Mason General Hospital – Shelton, WA

Mid-Valley Hospital – Omak, WA

Othello Community Hospital – Othello, WA,

Providence Holy Family Hospital – Spokane, WA

Providence Mount Carmel Hospital – Colville, WA

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital – Spokane, WA

Providence St. Joseph’s Hospital – Chewelah, WA

Pullman Regional Hospital – Pullman, WA

Samaritan Healthcare – Moses Lake, WA

St. Elizabeth Hospital – Enumclaw, WA

Sunnyside Community Hospital – Sunnyside, WA

Whitman Hospital & Medical Center – Colfax, WA