To help
community oncology practices and large institutions navigate recent
health-care policy changes and leverage health information
technology (HIT) to improve the quality of care, ASCO will hold the
2011 HIT/EHR Symposium at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta on
November 4-5.
"This symposium has
sessions for those beginning their electronic health record [EHR]
transition or for those more familiar with the technology," said
Peter Paul Yu, MD, Chair of the 2011 ASCO HIT/EHR
Symposium Program Committee. "The topics covered represent a
natural progression from previous ASCO symposiums and center on the
broad concept of information management. This symposium has content
for those preparing for EHR implementation as well as for more
advanced early adopters of HIT who are seeking to leverage their
investment."
As payers and providers
use new technology to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, ASCO
supports the adoption of electronic health records and other
technology to improve the quality of cancer care. To ensure that
oncology practices are fully informed and equipped, the symposium
will cover the full range of issues they face.
Fully understanding the
EHR certification requirements to qualify for Meaningful Use
Incentives, recent modifications by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services to the eRx incentive program, and payment
penalties for oncologists who fail to e-prescribe are just some of
the most recent policy changes that challenge practices using or
upgrading to EHR.
Symposium
Topics
The 2011 Symposium sessions
include:
- Navigating cultural and financial challenges with EHR
implementation
- Streamlining the integration of information technology into
everyday practice
- Using EHRs to improve quality and safety of care
- Qualifying for stage 1 Meaningful Use and understanding the
objectives of stages 2 and 3
- Exploring new models of care such as Accountable Care
Organizations (ACOs) and patient-centered medical homes
Attendees will also have
an opportunity for hands-on use of cutting-edge technology. The
symposium will feature a challenge session for vendors, in which
they are given a detailed patient case scenario and will be asked
to demonstrate their effectiveness in performing several EHR
tasks.
In addition to the
symposium, ASCO has assembled several resources to help oncologists
with the many issues surrounding health IT. ASCO has also developed
technical standards for EHRs and has actively commented on related
government legislation. For more information on ASCO's EHR efforts,
please visit www.asco.org/ehr, and for questions about these
activities, e-mail ehr@asco.org. ■
