Missouri Health

Missouri hospitals are making significant investments in health information technology, according to a new special report from the Hospital Industry Data Institute. And, these investments promise new opportunities for quality improvement in Missouri’s health care delivery system and an economic boost through expansion of jobs in the state’s health care and information technology sectors.

“Hospital’s progress on EHR implementation is vitally important to our health care system in Missouri,” said Herb B. Kuhn, MHA president and CEO. “There are federal incentives for hospitals that are contingent on demonstrating meaningful use of the technology in 2011. These funds will not only partially offset part of the cost of adoption for hospitals, but it also will increase economic investment and the addition of technology jobs.”

The report tracks Missouri hospitals’ progress across four main areas of use, which include functions that allow documentation of patient information, viewing of test results, physician and caregiver instructions, and information to support decision making. These tools are important as hospitals work to increase the quality and efficiency of care and communicate with other providers, such as physicians and pharmacies.

According to Kuhn, there are significant benefits to the adoption of EHR technology, both inside the hospital and to the community at large.

“Electronic health records will improve hospitals’ ability to manage a patient’s care. That’s very important. The value-added benefit is the new technology-focused jobs that will be created as the systems are implemented and operated,” Kuhn said.

Federal incentives for EHR technologies are linked to hospitals’ ability to demonstrate that they use the systems in a meaningful way. Many hospitals and physician practices are investing in this technology, even in this difficult economy, in an effort to meet the federal incentive program deadlines.