Oklahoma physicians are aided in the adoption of health information technology (HIT) by the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality. The purpose of the Oklahoma Regional Extension Center is to assist physicians with meaningful use of electronic health record (EHR) systems to improve their quality of care. This Regional Extension Center was created under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act’s Health Information Technology Extension Program.
The great number of vendors and the complexity of available software make choosing a suitable EHR software a daunting and time consuming task for physicians. The Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality Regional Extension Center can play an important role in facilitating physicians through the selection process, as well as the implementation process of the EHR software. Supporting Health Information Exchanges development is also a long-term goal of the Regional Extension Center.
A selected list of preferred EHR vendors may be offered by some Regional Extension Centers. These preferred EHR vendors are carefully selected out of a group of EMR (electronic medical record) companies due to a demonstrated commitment to Oklahoma’s health information technology mission. The chosen electronic health record vendors offer greater functionality that enables practices to better participate in the Health Information Exchange and achieve meaningful use of EMR software. Additionally, these EHR vendors facilitate quick and smooth adoption of EHR software for these Regional Extension Center participants by offering discounted prices and standardized terms and conditions. Regional Extension Center members may also receive group purchasing discounts from these EHR vendors.
There are no preferred EHR vendors recommended by the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality.