A study conducted by a regional extension center in California suggests that safety-net primary care physicians that handle a majority of ethnic minority patient visits are falling behind in adoption of electronic health records, according to a Healthcare IT News report.
The study has sparked concern among regional extension center leaders, who are charged with providing technological assistance and support to healthcare providers as they adopt EHRs in their practice or institutions. The main concern is that rural and ethnic communities will be left behind as the rest of the healthcare industry continues to adopt EHRs in increasing numbers.
Sajid Ahmed, director of health IT for L.A. Care, said RECs will need to come up with creative ways, such as social media, to reach out to providers in these communities to demonstrate to them how EHR adoption promotes quality care. Other suggestions from health IT experts include face-to-face contact with rural community providers.
In response to the issue, National HIT Collaborative for the Underserved, based in Washington, D.C., has been formed by partnering with various RECs to encourage and motivate healthcare providers in those communities to use EHRs in their practice, according to the report.
Read the Healthcare IT News report about health IT in rural and ethnic communities.
Read other coverage about regional extension centers:
- CHIME and ONC Pledge Support to Regional Extension Centers
- HHS to Distribute $20M in Technical Support to Rural Hospitals, Critical Access Facilities
- Survey Suggests Healthcare Providers Slow to Sign Contracts With Regional Extension Centers
The study has sparked concern among regional extension center leaders, who are charged with providing technological assistance and support to healthcare providers as they adopt EHRs in their practice or institutions. The main concern is that rural and ethnic communities will be left behind as the rest of the healthcare industry continues to adopt EHRs in increasing numbers.
Sajid Ahmed, director of health IT for L.A. Care, said RECs will need to come up with creative ways, such as social media, to reach out to providers in these communities to demonstrate to them how EHR adoption promotes quality care. Other suggestions from health IT experts include face-to-face contact with rural community providers.
In response to the issue, National HIT Collaborative for the Underserved, based in Washington, D.C., has been formed by partnering with various RECs to encourage and motivate healthcare providers in those communities to use EHRs in their practice, according to the report.
Read the Healthcare IT News report about health IT in rural and ethnic communities.
Read other coverage about regional extension centers:
- CHIME and ONC Pledge Support to Regional Extension Centers
- HHS to Distribute $20M in Technical Support to Rural Hospitals, Critical Access Facilities
- Survey Suggests Healthcare Providers Slow to Sign Contracts With Regional Extension Centers