Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. is a board certified neurologist and one of the more experienced physician health care informaticists in the nation. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. has won several teaching awards and has 15 years of experience in clinical and academic medicine where his responsibilities included educating medical students and neurology residents. With more than 10 years of experience in the health information technology sector, Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. has provided leadership to several high profile projects at the National Library of Medicine, the National Cancer Institute, and the College of American Pathologists. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. played a key role in the development of SNOMED Clinical Terms, an evolving standard for the electronic transmission of clinical information being adopted worldwide. He also has over 8 years of direct experience with the design and implementation of electronic health records. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. is a Certified Professional Coder and Certified Family Practice Coder.
Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. has given numerous presentations at national and local venues on a diverse array of topics related to health information technology including electronic health records, health care information technology standards, health information exchanges, coding, clinical terminology, structured data capture, data integrity in information systems, the history of ICD-9-CM, SNOMED CT, quality of care improvements related to technology, clinical efficacy research, practice optimization, and genomic medicine. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. is a member of the American Society of Health Information Managers Health IT Industry Advisory Panel, the Health Information Technology Standards Panel, and the American Association of Professional Coders' Family Practice Steering Committee.
Multi-Specialty Client Recognized as Champion of EHR Implementation
Austin, TX - 
, the provider of the nation's most highly rated Electronic Health Record (EHR), congratulates Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS) for assisting 80 physicians in their community with achieving Meaningful Use, the standard required to receive federal funds for the conversion to electronic health records. SVMHS selected as their EHR provider after a rigorous selection process in 2009. The strong partnership that developed between SVMHS and has led to the successful implementation of more than 100 providers in 42 facilities in Salinas, California and the surrounding communities.
"Adoption of electronic medical record technology is a critical success factor for organizations adapting to today's rapidly changing healthcare environment. Salinas Valley Memorial remains committed to helping our physicians through these changes so that they can continue to focus on providing the patients of our healthcare district the highest level of care," said Jim Griffith, Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at SVMHS.
As part of that commitment, SVMHS offers independent physician practices in their medical community hosted access to , supplemented under the Stark Safe Harbor Anti-Trust Exception. They have a dedicated implementation team that assists with all aspects of training; implementation and supportÑhelping practices meet requirements specified in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The efforts of their dedicated ambulatory EHR team and the hard work of physician practices resulted in more than 80 physicians in their community qualifying for Meaningful Use incentive payments in 2011, a significant milestone made possible by their use of .
"' relationship with Salinas Valley Memorial demonstrates ' cost-effective ability to help communities support increased efficiency and demonstrate quality care for their patients," said Michael Q. Stearns, MD, CPC, President and CEO of .
"We congratulate SVMHS on bringing healthcare IT improvements to multiple specialties and facilities within their healthcare system," Michael Q. Stearns said.
Michael Q. Stearns went on to say, "We are seeing a significant amount of our clients pursue Meaningful Use incentives, and it is encouraging to see physicians being rewarded for excellence in patient care."
The Salinas Healthcare System was attracted to ' high rankings on objective EHR evaluations performed by members of medical societies such as the American Academy of Family Practice and the American College of Physicians. After a successful pilot program at one of its urgent care clinics, SVMHS discovered provided ease of use, a minimal learning curve and a versatile, well-integrated program. Ultimately, Solution Series was selected because it was easy to implement, adaptable, scalable, and supports sharing of information between healthcare facilities; making it ideal for their multi-specialty medical community.
Physician Recognized as Leader in Implementation of Electronic Health Records
Austin, TX - , the provider of the nation's most highly rated EHR, congratulates Christopher Wenner, MD, for being recognized on Monday, December 5, 2011, by Minnesota's Regional Extension Center for Health Information Technology (REC) for his leadership in the nationwide transition toward electronic health records. Dr. Wenner is one of the first providers in Minnesota to attest to Meaningful Use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. He worked with REACH, the REC designated by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to assist clinicians in Minnesota and North Dakota in becoming meaningful users of electronic health records. is pleased to congratulate Dr. Wenner on becoming a member of an exclusive group of leaders Ð the Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUV). MUV is an initiative of ONC, designed to honor, thank, and bring together clinicians like Dr. Wenner, who have successfully implemented EHRs. MUVers (members of the MUV program) serve as local leaders and advisors in the nation's transition toward an electronically-enabled health care system. Dr. Wenner is one of many clients in every region of the country who have become MUVers.
Dr. Wenner operates a comprehensive family medicine clinic in Cold Spring, Minnesota that is certified as a medical home, and facilitates partnerships between individual patients, healthcare providers, and when appropriate, members of the patient's family. " is pleased to congratulate Dr. Wenner on being recognized for his ability to use health information technology in a manner that benefits the care he is providing to his patients," said Michael Q. Stearns, MD, CPC, President and CEO of .
Michael Q. Stearns added, "We are seeing a promising relationship develop between the advanced use of our EHR, Meaningful Use, and the Patient Centered Medical Home.
"This is an encouraging trend that will improve care while rewarding physicians for the quality of care they provide," MIchael Q. Stearns said.
Dr. Wenner will receive one of the first incentive payments in Minnesota made under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments are available to eligible professionals and hospitals when they adopt, implement, upgrade, or demonstrate Meaningful Use of a certified electronic health record.
Dr. Wenner intends to use his EHR to continue to improve patient care by utilizing reminders for preventative screening and immunizations, as well as registry features to aid in chronic disease management. The Meaningful Use and medical home requisites go hand in hand to facilitate better patient care. "I can access my records from anywhereÑI don't have to be in the office," Wenner explained the benefits of his EHR. "I'm able to allow my patients access to their medical records via my portal. I'm able to email after-visit summaries. made it possible, almost easy."
Small practices like Dr. Wenner's are challenged by not having on-site technical support and having to understand all aspects of the meaningful use rule. "I really valued the help that REACH gave to me. It would have been much more challenging for me to do this by myself," Wenner said.
Physicians are Among Nebraska's First to Attest for Meaningful Use
AUSTIN, TX - , the provider of the nation's most highly rated electronic health record (EHR), announced that providers at Southwest Family Physicians, Drs. Mark Woodruff and William Weeks, were among the first physicians in the state of Nebraska to attest for Meaningful Use and receive federal funds from the Medicare EHR Incentive Program for their efforts. The doctors were recently recognized by Nebraska's Lt. Governor, Rick Sheehy and Wide River Technology Extension Center (TEC), for their leadership in the transition to EHRs. Drs. Woodruff and Weeks have been providing medical care to families in the Omaha area since 1984 and have been clients since 2009.
The Medicare EHR Incentive Program provides eligible professionals and hospitals with financial incentives when they demonstrate Meaningful Use of a certified EHR. The physicians will each receive an initial $18,000 incentive payment from CMS for demonstrating Meaningful Use with Solution Series EHR. Provider payments can amount to $44,000 through Medicare or $63,750 through Medicaid over the life of the initiative.
Southwest Family Physicians were connected with software and support team through Wide River TEC, a designated regional extension center by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Together and Wide River TEC assisted Southwest Family Physicians by supporting the clinic's efforts to become meaningful users of EHRs. Through an advisory role, Wide River TEC brings local expertise and support to primary care physicians and other healthcare professionals in Nebraska for successful EHR adoption.
Dr. Weeks and Dr. Woodruff will serve as local leaders and advisors in the nation's transition toward an electronically enabled health care system as members of the Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUV). MUV is an initiative of ONC and is designed to honor, thank and bring together clinicians who have successfully made the transition to EHRs.
"We have long seen the benefits of EHRs and have been watching the product mature and improve for many years. Over 2 years ago, we drafted some goals for an EHR and began a methodical search for our system. We decided on
from Austin, TX and we went live in October 2009. With careful planning, I thought our conversion went very well. Our staff and providers all bought into the process and we were unified in making it a success. We have seen greater efficiencies in accessing records both in and outside of the office. Our records and patient care has improved dramatically since implementation," said Dr. Mark Woodruff, Southwest Family Physicians.
"We have been very pleased to see how quickly so many of our providers have successfully achieved MU across the nation," stated Michael Q. Stearns, MD, President and CEO of .
"To their credit, the majority of our providers were already using their EHRs in ways that often exceeded the Meaningful Use requirements," Michael Q. Stearns said.
"We are looking forward to Stages 2 and 3 and beyond," Michael Q. Stearns added, explaining that "this will allow us to achieve many of the benefits of health information technology that will have the greatest impact on patient care."
Client Wins 2011 HIMSS Ambulatory Davies Award of Excellence
AUSTIN, TX - , the provider of the nation's most highly rated electronic health record (EHR), congratulates James F. Holsinger, MD, PC, as a 2011 HIMSS Ambulatory Davies Care Award of Excellence recipient. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) selected six winners of the 2011 HIMSS Davies Awards with two clinics winning in the ambulatory award category. Dr. Holsinger's rural Iowa practice was recognized for the quality of patient care he provides through the Meaningful Use of EHRs.
The Davies Ambulatory Care Award recognizes organizations that have effectively leveraged health information technology (HIT) to provide excellence in care. Winners are chosen based on their progressive use of EHRs and evaluated on management, functionality, technology and value. Dr. Holsinger was selected as an ambulatory winner for his successful implementation of Solution Series, and utilizing the benefits of HIT to put exceptional patient care at the forefront of his practice.
As a finalist, Dr. James F. Holsinger hosted site-visits by the HIMSS Davies Ambulatory Care Award Committee. The Committee, which consisted of past winners and HIT experts, evaluated the practices through staff interaction and observation of EHR functionality in each individual setting.
"This cycle of evaluating practices for the prestigious Davies Award for excellence in implementation of electronic records has again resulted in the recognition of two outstanding examples of how computerization is leading to improved patient care and outcomes. We congratulate this year's winners for their hard work, innovation and dedication to improving patient care," said Daniel Griffin, MD, Chair of the HIMSS Ambulatory Davies Award committee and founder of Alpenglow Medical, PLLC, in Fort Collins, CO, a winner of the 2006 Davies Award of Excellence in Ambulatory Care.
Dr. Holsinger started his solo family medicine practice in Keokuk, Iowa, a rural community with a 20,000 population and the highest unemployment rate in the state. The practice opened in 2003 with no patients and two part-time visiting specialists renting space in the same building. Dr. Holsinger now has 1,400 active patients and is the first entirely automated clinic in the area. The practice became profitable in its first 20 months, implementing nearly every EHR function and interface available in its day-to-day operation.
"I believe medical practitioners should use the best science available to benefit patients. It's really not that much different than using advances in pharmacology or imaging techniques to use the latest science available in information technology," stated Dr. Holsinger. "The information systems we can use today are an opportunity to advance patient care. The electronic health record saves lives."
"It is extremely satisfying to see our customers receive recognition for their advanced use of electronic health records and practice management" said Michael Q. Stearns, MD, President and CEO of .
Michael Q. Stearns added, "We are pleased that Dr. Holsinger has been recognized with this highly prestigious award and know that his efforts are representative of the achievements of many of our customers nationwide."
"This award is a testament to his dedication to his patients and his commitment to providing the utmost quality of care in Iowa by using HIT," Michael Q. Stearns said.
and TMF Health Quality Institute Offer Texas Clients Free Assistance in Earning Additional Quality Incentives
AUSTIN, TX - , the provider of the nation's most highly rated EHR, and TMF Health Quality Institute, Texas' federally designated Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) are working together to offer users in Texas free assistance with earning incentives under the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) for 2012.
As a public service pursuant to its contract with the federal government, TMF will work together with to assist users interested in direct EHR reporting for selected Preventive Care measures under the PQRS program. The measures are aligned with "meaningful use" criteria. The following are included in this technical assistance:
enabling EHR functionality needed to conduct PQRS EHR Reporting identifying exactly where and how to record specific data elements for each preventive care measure establishing workflows to allow efficient and consistent data capture using routine reports that allow monthly monitoring of PQRS measures implement a continuous quality improvement program to improve performance rates submitting data to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to receive incentive payments sharing best practices and expertise from topic experts on new developments in prevention services (for example, the CDC and physician specialists) providing assistance based on practice needs
Consistent with national healthcare goals to expand EHR use and functionality, CMS is encouraging providers to begin reporting PQRS using the EHR-based reporting option. users are well positioned to participate in this initiative because Solution Seriesª is one of only 27 EHR systems qualified in 2011 to report PQRS using the EHR option. While PQRS reporting can be daunting and meticulous, and TMF will lead physicians through the necessary steps to ensure successful reporting.
Providers who have successfully implemented an qualified product can earn financial incentives through PQRS. Failure to report PQRS measures will result in payment penalties beginning in 2015.
Participating in this initiative with TMF and will save physicians time and effort as they fully optimize the reporting features of their systems. Further, physicians will be able to track their own care processes and make sustainable improvements with these reporting features.
"Direct EHR reporting for PQRS represents advancement of the program, which began with a claims-based reporting process," said Tara Richardson, director of quality improvement at TMF. "As practices are preparing to attest to meaningful use, the addition of PQRS EHR reporting maximizes their return on investment as well as advances progress toward quality improvement and better care coordination. TMF's focus is to improve the health of patients by assisting providers with reporting features and capabilities, while earning available incentives."
"We are pleased to offer our numerous clients in Texas the benefit of free assistance for earning incentives along with TMF." stated Michael Q. Stearns, MD, President and CEO of , Inc.
Michael Q. Stearns said, "We intend for our customers to reap all the possible benefits of EHR implementation and Meaningful Use, be it improved patient care, streamlined billing procedures or financial rewards from the government."
"TMF is an organization committed to helping clients realize those same advantages," Michael Q. Stearns added.
and Delmarva Foundation of the District of Columbia Offer Area Clients Free Assistance in Earning Additional Quality Incentives
and the QIO will help physicians take advantage of the PQRS incentive program.
Washington, DC - , the provider of the nation's most highly rated electronic health record (EHR), and Delmarva Foundation of the District of Columbia (DFDC), the federally designated Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) in the District of Columbia, are working together to offer users in the District free assistance with earning incentives under the Physician's Quality Reporting System (PQRS) for 2011 and 2012.
As a public service pursuant to their contract with the federal government, DFDC will work together with to assist users interested in reporting selected preventive care measures under the PQRS program in the following ways:
Enable EHR functionality needed to conduct PQRS EHR reporting Identify exactly where and how to record specific data elements for each preventive care measure Establish workflows to allow efficient and consistent data capture Develop routine reports that allow monthly monitoring of PQRS measures Implement a continuous quality improvement program to improve performance rates Submit data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to receive incentive payments Share best practices and expertise from topic experts (e.g., (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and physician specialists) on new developments in prevention services Provide assistance based on practice needs
Consistent with national healthcare goals to expand EHR use and functionality, CMS is encouraging providers to begin reporting PQRS using the EHR option. users are in a unique position to participate in this initiative because Solution SeriesTM is one of only 27 EHR systems qualified to report PQRS using the EHR option in 2011. While PQRS reporting can be daunting and meticulous, and DFDC will lead physicians through the necessary steps to ensure successful reporting. PQRS is important to providers who have successfully implemented a qualified EHR, offering financial incentives for their participation.
"The upcoming QIO 10th Scope of Work brings exciting opportunities for physicians to receive help from DFDC with many CMS incentive programs," said Brenda Gentles, Director, Quality Improvement Programs for DFDC. "When effectively implemented, quality processes, measurement, monitoring and improvement become extremely motivating to the entire healthcare team. EHRs augment these processes and empower physicians to better understand their practices by delivering real-time information."
"We are pleased to offer our clients in the District of Columbia the benefit of free assistance for earning incentives along with DFDC." stated Michael Q. Stearns, MD, President and CEO of , Inc.
"We intend for our customers to reap all the possible benefits of EHR implementation and Meaningful Use, be it improved patient care, streamlined billing procedures or financial rewards from the government," Michael Q. Stearns added.
"DFDC is an organization committed to helping clients realize those same advantages," Michael Q. Stearns said.
Physicians are Nevada's First to Attest for Meaningful Use
AUSTIN, TX - , the provider of the nation's most highly rated EHR, announced that the physicians at Silver Sage Center for Family Medicine, Drs. Andy Pasternak and Theresa Angermann, are the first priority primary care physicians (PPCPs) in the state of Nevada to attest for Meaningful Use and now qualify to receive federal funds for their efforts. Silver Sage uses Solution Seriesª in their private family practice to improve the quality of patient care and business operations.
Working as a team, Silver Sage, HealthInsight (the Regional Extension Center for Utah and Nevada), and implemented optimal workflows and best practices for the practice. The partnership formed by these three entities led to a successful demonstration of Meaningful Use and improved care for patients. Of note is that Silver Sage was also the only practice in Nevada to receive a HealthInsight Physician Office Quality Award in both 2009 and 2010.
"The Meaningful Use criteria have been a catalyst for our office with regards to how we use our electronic health record," said Dr. Andy Pasternak of Silver Sage. "Because of Meaningful Use, the providers and staff have made some changes that we feel will benefit patient communication and patient satisfaction at our office. With the great help from and HealthInsight, we're excited to be on the leading edge of EHR use."
"On behalf of HealthInsight, I congratulate Silver Sage Center for Family Medicine's Drs. Pasternak and Angermann for being the first Regional Extension Center (REC) participants in Nevada to meet the Meaningful Use criteria and complete the attestation process," Kevin Kennedy, Vice President of Nevada Operations for HealthInsight, states. "We commend Silver Sage for being at the forefront of EHR technology usage, and hope Drs. Pasternak and Angermann's example will encourage other clinicians to follow in the footsteps of Silver Sage."
"We were pleased to hear that yet another of our clients is on the forefront of meeting ONC's standards of Meaningful Use and will receive incentive funds from CMS," stated Michael Q. Stearns, MD, President and CEO of , Inc.
"Our staff enjoyed working with Silver Sage and HealthInsight, who serve as an excellent resource for physicians in Nevada," Michael Q. Stearns said.
"We'd like to congratulate Dr. Pasternak and Dr. Angermann on their achievement," Michael Q. Stearns added.
