The Kansas Foundation for Medical Care (KFMC) is a Regional Extension Center that was established under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act’s Health Information Technology Extension Program. This Regional Extension Center aids physicians in Kansas in the adoption of health information technology (HIT) needed to improve the value and quality of their care. KFMC provide physicians with technical assistance and education on electronic health record (EHR) systems, so Kansas physicians may implement health information technology systems and improve their practice.
Purchasing certified EHR software is the initial step towards achieving meaningful use of health information technology systems for a physician. However, due to the many different EHR vendors that offer a complexity of software choices, choosing a suitable EHR software challenging for most physicians. The Kansas Regional Extension Center can guide physicians through the EHR software selection and implementation processes, allowing a smoother and quicker adoption process. This center is also dedicated to the development of Health Information Exchanges.
Some Regional Extension Centers provide physicians with a list of preferred EHR vendors, which include a carefully selected group of EMR (electronic medical record) companies. The selection process screened these EMR companies for their commitment to the development of health information technology. The preferred EHR vendors selected enable a more meaningful use of EHR software for physicians by agreeing to have a higher base level of functionality and interoperability. Additionally, the electronic health records vendors offer discounted prices and standardized terms and conditions to facilitate quick and smooth adoption for these Regional Extension Center participants. They may also offer group discounts to members.
