As the U.S. health care system evolves, national and state initiatives are placing an increased emphasis on documenting improved patient outcomes. As part of that effort, health plans and physicians will be required to show they are improving care through programs such as the meaningful use of electronic health records and adopting the medical home model.

That model of primary care focuses on providing patients with a physician-led team that focuses on the whole person, tracks outcomes and  uses health information technology to measure best practices and results of  care. The model has great potential to reduce healthcare costs for patients, and improve patient engagement and public health. To encourage the adoption of such strategies, payers are beginning to provide incentives to healthcare providers who adopt the patient-centered medical home model.

The United States has more than 5,000 recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home practices and health reform advocates are looking for ways to expand those numbers.

With certified PCMH experts, the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ Regional Extension Center is prepared to assist primary care physicians in Central Florida in achieving recognition as medical homes and to help them navigate electronic health records and other Health IT solutions.

“Our goal is to improve the health of our entire community by helping providers increase the quality of care as they reduce costs,â€� said Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ REC Executive Director Josue F. Rodas. “We are honored to be among the nation’s first recognized leaders in helping physicians become patient-centered medical homes.â€�

As a result of federal health care reform legislation, all medical records must be converted to an electronic format by 2014. Electronic records are expected to improve the quality and efficiency of medical care by making information exchanges easier between health care providers. Currently the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ REC is assisting 1,430 health care providers; 721 have implemented electronic records, and 100 have reached Meaningful Use status, making them eligible for more than $2 million in federal incentives.

Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ is one of 62 centers nationwide that are working to help health care providers reach meaningful use of electronic records. As Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services explained, “If you want to promote better coordination of care between doctors, you need to be able to quickly move health information wherever it’s needed. If you want to empower consumers to take charge of their health care, they need to be able to access their health information without calling five different doctor’s offices.â€�

The additional dollars bring the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ REC’s total federal grant funding to $8.7 million over four years and will be used to increase resources, training, and education. The funding will also help the center develop a sustainable program that will continue to provide local assistance when grand funding ends.

The $150,000 grant will help the center provide electronic health record assistance to local dentists who work in medically underserved areas and see at least 30 percent of patients who are covered under Medicaid. To be eligible, a dental practice must have less than 10 providers. Using electronic records can help providers better communicate with their patients, provide faster, safer care and increase their practice’s efficiency. “Electronic health records improve patient care and the health of our communities,â€� said Josue Rodas, director of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ REC. “We are honored to receive additional federal and state resources to help health care providers across Central Florida.â€�

For more information, visit www.ucf-rec.org or call 407.309.4789.

Dr. Amish Parikh and Dr. Marvin Hardy were among approximately 80 health information technology pacesetters from across the country invited to Washington, D.C., by the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services.

A cardiologist, Dr. Parikh is from Premier Cardiology and Vascular Associates, with offices in Winter Park and Orlando. Dr. Hardy is the medical director of Grace Medical Home, a privately funded clinic for low-income, uninsured patients in Orange County. Executive director Stephanie Garris also attended the Washington conference. All are using paperless systems to improve patient care.

Medical providers along with senior White House officials such as Cecilia Muñoz, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, and Liz Fowler, special assistant to the president for healthcare and economic policy, discussed how health information technology can improve care in communities. On Monday, the office of the National Coordinator for Health IT also hosted a conference for health care professionals.  The office announced that more than 100,000 health care providers nationwide are using electronic health records that meet federal standards and have benefitted for federal incentive payments.

As a result of federal health care reform legislation, all medical records must be converted to an electronic format by 2014. Electronic records are expected to improve the quality and efficiency of medical care by making information exchanges easier between health care providers.

The College of Medicine received a $7.8 million federal grant in 2010 to establish a regional health information technology center to help area physicians identify, select and implement EHRs.  So far, the REC has enrolled 1,600 Central Florida physicians and 796 have adopted electronic records.

Dr. Parikh said the White House meeting underscored how important EHRs are to patient care. One case discussed involved a St. Louis patient who visited the hospital 52 times in four years. Through the use of electronic health records, a doctor was able to connect all the treatments, make a coordinated plan and provide the patient care with reduced hospital visits.

“Phase 1 is getting the hardware and software into doctors’ offices,â€� he said. “Phase 2 will be how do you take information and benefit the patient.â€�

Dr. Hardy said Tuesday’s meeting showed the U.S. government is committed to health information technology.  He added that a future challenge will be establishing a nationwide standard to ensure a smooth exchange of information between different health care organizations. “We feel fortunate to be connected to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ REC,â€� Dr. Hardy said. “Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ has been helpful in implementing electronic health records.â€�