Regional Extension Center Offers Services to Specialists

The West Texas Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (WTxHITREC) now offers specialist services on a tier system based on electronic health record (EHR) adoption status and the number of providers within each practice.

Each tier has been created to develop an effective project plan to provide technical assistance and support each practice as they achieve meaningful use:

Tier 1 - No certified EHR previously adopted

Tier 2 - Certified EHR previously adopted but not implemented

Tier 3 - Certified EHR previously adopted and implemented — Meaningful use gap analysis

America’s health care system is making progress in embracing health information technology, according to a recent study by the National Center for Health Statistics, which found 55 percent of U.S. providers have transitioned to EHRs.

Health care providers face many challenges when approaching EHR implementation, and the WTxHITREC supports health care professionals, including primary health care providers and specialists, and hospitals in taking full advantage of EHRs. Currently, the WTxHITREC serves approximately 1,000 primary care providers and 40 hospitals.

The WTxHITREC, a program of the F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural and Community Health, was awarded through an objective review process by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, as the designated organization for 108 counties in West Texas to support health care providers and hospitals with EHR adoption and meaningful use.