Case study: TX network subsidizes physician EMRs

Here's the story of how one south Texas health system has responded to new federal guidance making it clear that non-profits can help doctors acquire EMRs. Valley Health Care Network, a physician-hospital organization affiliated with Valley Baptist Health System of Brownsville, TX, has begun subsidizing EMR rollouts among participating physicians. To take part in the the program, physicians must agree to use GE Healthcare's Centricity EMR, which is already in place within the system's hospitals. The Centricity system, which allows physicians to connect through the Internet, gives physicians access not only to clinical records, but also digital data such as radiology results. The physician network is paying for the EMR rollout with funds set aside for its pay-for-performance initiative.

To learn more about the system's EMR efforts:
- check out the Valley Health release [1]
- read this Valley Morning Star piece [2]

Related Articles:
IRS gives physician EMR donations the OK. Report [3]
HHS, IRS rules on EMR donations clash. Report [4]