In 2009, through the Obama administration, a new health plan arose in the USA, aiming to digitalize all health information gathered at hospitals and clinics across the nation, but not only to have the information more accessible and organized, but mainly to provide a much more efficient and meaningful medical service to all patients nationwide.

Till now, most of the digitalization of medical records, via Electronic health/medical records (EMRs/EHRs), was the sole privilege of the bigger hospitals and private sector institutions, but Thanks to the US government’s aid two years ago, an IT bomb was set loose that has made most, if not all health providers and practitioners to go digital.

The first phase of the project was exactly this. Give the opportunity to both the big and the small to get into the digital era, ultimately allowing a nationwide sharing and collaboration of medical information that would grant patients the ease and flexibility of having their medical history available wherever they go. This would include the entry of basic data such as patient’s vital signs and demographics, active medications and allergies, smoking status, etc.

The changes are specific depending on if the provider is an individual or a hospital.
Eligible professionals have to complete 15 core objectives, 5 objectives out of 10 from the menu set, and 6 total Clinical Quality Measures (CMS) (3 core or alternate core, and 3 of 38 from the alternate set.
Hospitals on the other hand, must complete: 14 core objectives, 5 objectives out of 10 from the menu set, and 15 Clinical Quality Measures.
These will need to be implemented and certified between the periods of 2011-12, to be able to participate in the incentives program set by the HITECH

Although it may seem quite rigorous, there are some exceptions to the rules, given that the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act) are aware that some of the Meaningful Use (MU) objectives do not apply to every provider. For such cases, the professionals or hospitals would be excluded from having to meet those measures that do not apply to them. Eg: Chiropractors do not e-prescribe, Dentists who do not perform immunizations.

Ultimately the main objectives, that the IT health department sector wishes to guarantee all patients, are the following:

• Improve the quality, safety, efficiency and reduce health disparities.
• Engage patients and their families in their healthcare
• Improve care coordination nationwide
• Ensure adequate privacy and security protections for personal health information
• Improve population and public health

For more information about certifications and other programs designed to support providers as they make the transition, visit http://healthit.hhs.gov