title: Meaningful use of electronic health records in otolaryngology: recommendations from the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Medical Informatics Committee.
abstract: Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, passed as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the US Congress implemented new regulations to encourage the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs). The federal government will expend up to $27 billion in incentive payments to physicians and hospitals to increase adoption and implement "meaningful use" of EHRs. Otolaryngologists may receive as much as $44,000 under Medicare or $63,750 under Medicaid as part of this law. In July 2010, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced final rules to support "meaningful use." This commentary discusses recommendations from the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Medical Informatics Committee for implementing "meaningful use" of EHRs to improve safety, quality, and efficiency of patient care and receiving incentive payments as defined by these new regulations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sinus and Allergy, Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43212, USA. Subinoy.Das@osumc.edu
authors.forename: Subinoy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Lee D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: House
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Rodney P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lusk
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Milesh M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Jayde M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steckowych
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ermini
mesh_terms: D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States