Kentucky Providers Named “MUVers” for Leadership in Electronic Health Record Adoption
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 26, 2012) – The Kentucky Regional Extension Center (KY-REC) has honored seven regional health care practices and a critical access hospital leading the movement toward an electronic health information network with the Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUVer) Awards.
Recipients of the awards were recognized Sept. 18 during the 5th Annual Kentucky eHealth Summit in Lexington, Ky., sponsored by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Governor’s Office of Electronic Health Information. The summit connected providers, executives, IT professionals and other health care representatives in discussions about the future of health information technology (HIT).
MUVer awards applaud health care providers and hospitals that are progressing with the adoption of electronic health record (EHR) technology through participation in the Meaningful Use Incentive Program. Established by the Office of the National Coordinator for HIT in 2009, the Meaningful Use Incentive Program provides federal funding for hospitals and providers that demonstrate the use of EHR technology in a way that can be measured in quality and quantity. Participants in the Incentive Program must attest to standards of EHR use identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
As champions of the Meaningful Use Incentive Program, MUVers serve as local leaders, advocates and role models for EHRs and the development of an electronically connected health care information network. MUvers are committed to using EHR technology to improve the accuracy, efficiency and accessibility of critical health care information.
“On behalf of the KY-REC, I congratulate all of the 2012 MUVers for serving as EHR role models in the state of Kentucky,” Dr. Carol Steltenkamp, Principle Investigator for the KY-REC, said. “We commend them for staying at the forefront of Health Information Technology adoption, and hope that their example will encourage other clinicians to follow in their footsteps.”
2012 MUVers honored were:
- Health First of the Bluegrass of Lexington, Ky.
- EyeMax of Lexington, Ky.
- Hometown Family Care of Prestonburg, Ky.
- Wayne County Hospital of Monticello, Ky.
- Big Sandy Healthcare of Prestonburg, Ky.
- Women First of Louisville of Louisville, Ky.
- Oncology Associates of Western Kentucky of Paducah, Ky.
- Huffman and Huffman of London, Ky.
About KY-REC
The KY-REC based at the University of Kentucky is one of 60 regional extension centers across the country commissioned by the Office of the National Coordinator to help providers and hospitals transition to EHR technology. KY-REC implementation specialists provide resources and guidance to help providers gain federal incentives through the Meaningful Use Incentive Program. More than 1,000 health care providers and hospitals across Kentucky are receiving assistance from the KY-REC. For more information about the KY-REC, visit www.ky-rec.org.
Media Contact: Kristi Lopez, kristi.lopez@uky.edu or (859) 323-6363