To assist the adoption of health information technology (HIT), Montana and Wyoming have Mountain-Pacific Quality Health Foundation (MPQHF) serving physicians within both states. This Regional Extension Center was created under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act’s Health Information Technology Extension Program. Specifically, the purpose of MPQHF is to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance necessary to help providers in Montana and Wyoming improve their quality of care by attaining or exceeding meaningful use of electronic health record (EHR) systems.
The purchase of certified EHR software for your practice is the first step toward achieving meaningful use of EHR systems. The sheer number of vendors and the complexity of choices available make choosing a suitable EHR software a daunting and time consuming task. The Montana and Wyoming MPQHF can play a crucial role in guiding physicians through selection process and the implementation process for the EHR software the physicians have purchased. The MPQHF is also dedicated to the broader long-term goal of supporting the development of Health Information Exchanges.
Some Regional Extension Centers have also chosen to offer a list of prequalified or selected EHR vendors (also known as preferred EHR vendors). These EHR vendors include a select group of EMR (electronic medical record) companies that underwent a significant qualification and selection process and have demonstrated a commitment to Montana and Wyoming’s health information technology mission. The selected electronic health records vendors agreed to a higher base level of functionality and interoperability that will enable practices to achieve meaningful use of EHR and best participate in the Health Information Exchange. Additionally, the electronic health records vendors have discounted prices and standardized terms and conditions to facilitate quick and smooth adoption for these Regional Extension Center participants. Regional Extension Center members may also receive group purchasing discounts from these EHR vendors.
Below is the list of preferred EMR vendors recommended by the Montana and Wyoming MPQHF Regional Extension Center:
- Allscripts – MyWay
- Allscripts – Enterprise
- Allscripts – Professional
- eClinical Works
- e-MDs
- GE Healthcare – Centricity EMR
- Greenway – Prime Suite
- McKesson – Practice Partner
- McKesson – Horizon Ambulatory Care
- Medical Informatics Engineering (MIE) – WebChartNow
- NextGen
- Sage Now Vitera Healthcare
- Success EHS