NITHealth Enables Hoboken University Medical Center to Achieve "Meaningful Use"

Strategic Insights -

NITHealth provided consulting services to Hoboken University Medical Center, enabling it to become one of the first community hospitals in the U.S. to achieve "meaningful use." This accomplishment resulted in a grant of an estimated $8 million in stimulus funds, with approximately $3 million awarded this year. The center's success is notable, as only five percent of all U.S. hospitals have attested for "meaningful use" by meeting government requirements and standards for electronic health records.

Key Takeaways:

  • NITHealth's consulting services enabled Hoboken University Medical Center to achieve "meaningful use," resulting in a grant of an estimated $8 million in stimulus funds, with approximately $3 million awarded this year.
  • The center's success is a notable achievement, as only five percent of all U.S. hospitals have attested for "meaningful use" by meeting government requirements and standards for electronic health records.
  • Lior Blik, Chief Executive Officer, NITHealth, emphasized the importance of developing a full understanding of the internal workings of a hospital to achieve "meaningful use" and provide superior and more cost-effective patient care.
  • NITHealth brings its expertise and focus in working with community hospitals to solve the unique challenges these organizations face, with over 88 percent of the nation's hospitals being community hospitals.
  • Implementing Electronic Medical Records (EMR) requires strategic planning, including understanding government requirements and having the necessary IT staff, software, and hardware in-house.
  • Recent surveys by Black Book Rankings have highlighted the challenges faced by hospitals in implementing EMRs, including a lack of support from EHR vendors and high costs.
  • Hoboken University Medical Center's success serves as an example for other community hospitals looking to implement EMRs and achieve "meaningful use."

Statistics:

  • Only five percent of U.S. hospitals have attested for "meaningful use" by meeting government requirements and standards for electronic health records (Source: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services).
  • Approximately $3 million was awarded to Hoboken University Medical Center this year as part of a grant for an estimated $8 million in stimulus funds (Source: NITHealth).
  • Over 88 percent of the nation's hospitals are community hospitals, which face unique challenges in implementing EMRs (Source: NITHealth).
  • Less than 10 percent of EHR purchasers are on track to meet the government's meaningful use requirements (Source: Black Book Rankings).
  • More than 90 percent of physicians say they lack substantive support from EHR vendors (Source: Black Book Rankings).

Sources:

  • NITHealth
  • Hoboken University Medical Center
  • Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • Black Book Rankings
  • Contify.com