Healthcare Providers
The WVHIN is extremely sensitive to the needs and concerns of West Virginia's healthcare providers. For example, to address physicians' needs and concerns, the WVHIN has established a Physician Advisory Council, led by co-chairs Glen Wright, MD of Charleston and Jim Becker, MD of Huntington. The Council consists of a unique group of over 20 primary care and specialty physicians across the state which will help foster physician participation in the WVHIN and mobilize the physician community to adopt electronic health records (EHRs).
Benefits to Healthcare Providers for Participating in the WVHIN
- Ability to inquire about patient data regardless of where the patient has been seen or where the physician is located
- One connection to everything - hospitals, physician offices, labs, etc.
- Automated safeguards to prevent medical errors
- Quicker access to labs, radiology reports, and tests from labs, radiology centers and hospitals
- Ability to do cross-referrals between practices
- Reduced operating costs
- Ability to receive direct downloads into your EHR
- Improved patient communications
- Increased ability to successfully participate in Medical Home and similar initiatives
Healthcare Provider Resources
- WVHIN Provider Connectivity Readiness Assessment- Healthcare Providers interested in connecting to the WVHIN to become part of the exchange should complete this self-assessment. This survey will help assess your ability to meet connectivity standards. You may download the form from the link above.
- On July 13, 2010, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final Meaningful Use regulations. The final rule can be found on the Federal Register.
- The West Virginia Regional Health Information Technology Center (WVRHITEC) is a new federally funded project that is available to aid health care providers in implementing or using certified health information technology and achieving health improvement outcomes through "meaningful use."
The WVRHITEC is a resource to offer services/support (education, outreach, guidance) to health care providers in West Virginia – whether or not they have adopted electronic health record systems. Technical services also will be provided, and primary care providers/practices/clinics may be eligible for subsidized services. To sign up or to get more information, go to www.wvrhitec.org.
- The Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Provider Education Toolkit provides educational resources for health care providers interested in understanding electronic health information exchange and security and privacy best practices.
The Web-based tool, found at www.Secure4Health.org offers physician to physician advice, resource links, and answers to frequently asked questions from national health care subject-matter experts. Health care providers can also earn free continuing medical education credits while learning more about electronic health information exchange, electronic health record systems, and related privacy and security benefits and challenges. The Provider Education Toolkit is the result of the work completed by the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration, a multi-year project launched in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- If your practice is considering switching to electronic health records or if you have already done so, it is important to keep patients informed. This may include discussing how your system works and the privacy and security of health information. A wide range of tools have been developed to help providers disseminate such information to patients. For more information please visit, www.ehealthwv.org.