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Meaningful Use of EHRs: First Steps to Improved Patient Outcomes

Enroll today using this promotional code and receive a 15% discount:

Learn How to Achieve Meaningful Use in Your Practice with New Online Education

In 1997, Cisco launched what is now its largest corporate social responsibility program, Cisco® Networking Academy,® which delivers information and communications technology (ICT) education in over 165 countries and serves approximately 1 million students each year. Now in partnership with leading physician experts, Cisco continues to innovate by offering new online education for clinicians.

About the Curriculum

Meaningful Use of EHRs: First Steps to Improved Patient Outcomes is modular, self-paced curriculum composed of 2 online courses designed to help clinicians quickly understand meaningful use requirements and learn how to structure an EHR system within their healthcare environment. Authored in partnership with Dr. Chip Taylor, Medical Director of the O-HITEC Regional Extension Center in Oregon, the curriculum features practical healthcare scenarios that efficiently illustrate EHR applications for clinicians in real world environments. Healthcare professionals from small to medium sized medical practices will especially benefit from these learning activities.

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians and registered nurses involved in the implementation of EHRs in a clinical practice setting.

Educational Objectives

These courses will help you to:

Describe meaningful use requirements
Employ an EHR system in your practice
Distinguish what aspects of your practice will require digital adaptation
Explain what metrics are needed to achieve meaningful use

Course One – Meaningful Use: Qualifying for Incentives details how the integration of EHRs can improve patient outcomes, lower costs and reduce inefficiencies by making the transition from traditional, paper-based healthcare systems. It explains the HITECH legislation and Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs as well as the three stages of meaningful use. This course is perfectly suited to help clinicians and teams understand the reasons for EHR adoption.

Topics include:

New Legislation for Transformation
HITECH Act
Stages of Meaningful Use
Qualifying for Incentive Programs
Stage 1 Meaningful Use Criteria
Stage 1 Core Measures
Stage 1 Menu Measures

Course Two – Meaningful Use: Making the Transition to a Certified EHR System discusses the steps to transitioning to a certified EHR system and achieving meaningful use. This includes selecting an appropriate, certified EHR product, readjusting workflows, determining how to input and use data within the EHR system, and determining potential impacts on patient and business operations.

Topics include:

How do I get to Meaningful Use
Implementing a New EHR system
Certifying an Existing EHR system
Analyzing Requirements for EHR System
Preparing for Meaningful Use

Course Specifics

Offers flexible, self-paced learning at www.ciscohealthpath.com
Unlimited access to the courses for 3 months after enrollment
$30 individual license fee per course ($60 for both courses)
Up to 1.5 CME/CNE credits per course (up to 3 CME/CNE credits for both courses)
Volume discounts available for group purchase
Course launched October 22, 2010, expires July 6, 2012

System Requirements

Internet Access — Start a learning session from anywhere, anytime. www.ciscohealthpath.com
Printer — Simply print your CME or CNE statement of credit upon completion of the online post-test and activity evaluation form.

The Meaningful Use Regulation

In February 2009, The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) was signed into law by the federal government. HITECH provides funding to clinicians through Medicare and Medicaid, to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, starting with the implementation of the electronic health record (EHR). In order to qualify for incentive payments, eligible clinicians and hospitals must demonstrate meaningful use of the EHR system by satisfying a set of healthcare delivery objectives, as outlined by the federal government.

Fulfilling these federal milestones signifies an essential starting point on the path to adopt or upgrade certified EHR technology. The goal of the meaningful use regulation is to initiate the creation of a nationwide, interoperable healthcare network that empowers healthcare providers to exchange patient data in real-time. Connected healthcare communities who share patient data through the use of an EHR system will facilitate improved patient outcomes and decreased operating costs, influencing streamlined efficiencies throughout the entire network.

Enroll Today and Begin the Journey — Enroll today using this promotional code and receive a 15% discount: Log In Or Register With AmericanEHR for Discount Code

Whether you already have EHRs in your practice or are just starting implementation, this curriculum can help you quickly gain the knowledge you need to streamline your IT environment and meet the meaningful use guidelines.

The enrollment process takes just a few minutes. To register, or learn more, visit www.ciscohealthpath.com.

Jointly sponsored by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Cisco HealthPath

Cisco

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Accreditation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Cisco HealthPath.

Credit Designation
The Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Continuing Education

Credit Designation
This educational activity for 3.0 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

Accreditation
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation..