Ohio Leads Nation in EHR Sign-ups

The Ohio Health Information Partnership (The Partnership) has signed up more than 6,000 primary care physicians to use electronic health records, the highest number of any Regional Extension Center in the nation.

The Partnership has also committed to the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (HIT) that it will support outreach so that 10,000 Ohio physicians can meet Medicare and Medicaid federal meaningful use requirements by the end of this year.

The Partnership, which was a joint venture of the Ohio Osteopathic Association, the Ohio Hospital Association, Ohio State Medical Association, BioOhio and the State of Ohio, is a public-private partnership whose mission is to assist physicians and other providers with the adoption and implemention of health information technology (HIT).

The Partnership is also  responsible for the creation of a technological infrastructure that will allow Ohio physicians, hospitals and healthcare professionals to electronically share patient health records across the state. Using Medicity technology, the Partnership's Health Information Exchange, CliniSync,  has signed agreements with 56 hospitals, including rural and underserved regions. CliniSync also has commitments from one health plan, one national lab, nine physician groups and four other patient care organizations (labs, clinics, paramedics). St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, is now live.

“Rural areas have traditionally been the low folks on the totem pole when it comes to technological assistance,” said OOA Executive Director Jon Wills, vice chair of the Partnership's Board. “The HITECH Act specifically targeted areas of greatest need to improve patient access and coordinate care more effectively.  We were delighted that the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine was the first REC in the state to reach it's goal for physician sign-ups.”

Alongside the regional, grassroots approach that will lead to full statewide exchange, The Partnership is working with state leaders in public reporting, the expansion of patient-centered medical homes, behavioral health homes and easier transitions for people to long-term care, nursing homes and home health through HIE.