Eyefinity Launches New EHR

Eyefinity announced that more than $100 million in potential stimulus funds are available to its customers, as nearly 3,500 Eyefinity customers have attested for Stage 1 Meaningful Use (MU). In addition, it has launched Eyefinity EHR, a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) system with an adaptive learning engine. It’s also iPad accessible. Its users have found benefits to include ease of migration, increased access to patient data, adaptive learning, and seamless integration with OfficeMate. A thorough and effective data conversion process means easy access for nearly 8,000 doctors using ExamWRITER. General availability of the product is set for November 2013. Learn more at www.eyefinity.com/EHR.

AAO Creates Eye Care Data Base

"The American Academy of Ophthalmology on Monday announced plans for an EHR-linked eye disease database that will enable ophthalmologists nationwide to statistically analyze and benchmark their own care," reports Health Care IT News. "Billed as the first such centralized repository in the nation, the Intelligent Research in Sight Registry and reporting tool gathers data from electronic health records and performs statistical analysis of aggregated, de-identified patient data to produce national and practice-level benchmark reports, say AAO officials. These reports can validate the quality of care ophthalmologists provide and pinpoint opportunities for improvement, officials say. By assessing their quality of care rates and studying best practices, ophthalmologists can develop a strategic plan for improving patient outcomes." Read more.

Modernizing Medicine's EHR to Use Eyefinity

Modernizing Medicine, Inc. , will integrate Eyefinity’s award-winning practice management portfolio with MMI’s electronic health record (EHR) software. Read more.

New EHR System from VitalHealth

VitalHealth Software has released a cloud based EHR solution for eye care practices, which the company will demonstrate at the annual American Optometric Association conference in San Diego. The EHR system will be available through Uprise. Uprise functionality includes a fully integrated practice management component, insurance reimbursement processing, and online ophthalmic product ordering and tracking. Read more.

New Audits for EHR Incentive Recipients

Health care practitioners who receive Medicare or Medicaid electronic health records (EHR) incentives are subject to a new auditing program designed to ensure they have met the qualifications for the bonuses, according to the AOA Third Party Center. Read more.

Medicare Giving EHR Practitioners in HPSA's Additional Bonus

Qualified EHR (Electronic Health Records) practitioners who practiced last year in federally recognized Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) will be getting an additional bonus payment for their participation in the program – if they haven’t received it already, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Read more.

ODs Warned Only 3 Months Left for EHR Incentives

Health care practitioners have just a few months to ensure they earn the maximum possible payments through the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program, according to the AOA Health Information Technology (HIT) Subcommittee. In fact, they must act within the next 90 days, AOA HIT Subcommittee Chair Philip Gross, O.D., noted. Under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, health care practitioners can earn up to a total of $44,000 ($48,400 in federally designated health professional shortage areas) over the six-year life of the program if they install EHR systems that are certified for use under the program and achieve compliance with the program’s EHR utilization criteria, known as “meaningful use” standards. Read more.

ODs Earn Millions in Bonuses from EHR

Optometrists reportedly earned more than $21 million in top-level bonuses during the first year of the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program, according to the latest in a series of monthly reports from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Read more.

Pediatric Ophthalmology Struggles with EHR

"In adopting electronic health records, there are challenges for pediatric ophthalmology that other subspecialties do not face, a speaker said ...at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus meeting," according to an OSNSuperSite post. "For pediatric ophthalmologists, one of the challenges is that the workflow is complex and there is no standardized electronic pediatric ophthalmology exam form. Without such a standardized form, it is difficult to exchange data. Furthermore, ophthalmology in general relies heavily on photography, and pediatric ophthalmology in particular relies further on drawings and annotations." Read more.