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Rhode Island to track statewide healthcare IT use

HIM Connection, April 28, 2009

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Nearly 40% of Rhode Island physicians report using electronic clinical information systems to help provide care for their patients, according to the results of the state's 2009 Physician Health Information Technology Survey released April 6. 

The report includes information related to five measures:

• Measure 1—Electronic medical records (EMR): Doctors with computer systems or EMRs that track patients’ healthcare (Yes or No)
• Measure 2—‘Qualified’ EMRs: Doctors with ‘qualified’ EMRs, or computer systems that can perform certain tasks (Yes or No)
• Measure 3—Basic functionality use: How often doctors who have EMRs use their EMRs to perform certain basic tasks (scored from 0–100)
• Measure 4—Advanced functionality use: How often doctors who have EMRs use their EMRs to perform certain advanced tasks (scored from 0–100)
• Measure 5—e-Prescribing: Physicians who send their patients’ prescriptions electronically, or "e-prescribe" (Yes or No)

"One of the State’s healthcare priorities is to use HIT to increase the efficient delivery of patient care," Rhode Island Department of Health Public Reporting Program Director Samara Viner-Brown said in the press release. "These data help us to see how many physicians are actually using HIT. Patients can see if their physician uses electronic medical records or can find a physician who uses electronic medical records."

The survey reflects a three-year collaboration to encourage physician reporting in Rhode Island. In 1998, a legislative mandate required the department of health to publicly report healthcare quality for licensed providers. In 2006, the law was expanded to include reports from individual physicians.

To view the press release, click here.

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