More than 95 percent of federally qualified health centers have EHRs, according to recent data from the Health Resources Service Administration. Additionally, 85 percent of FQHCs report their providers have received at least one meaningful use incentive payment.
However, the FQHCs themselves may be struggling to meet meaningful use. At the end of 2012, just a third of FQHCs had an EHR that met core meaningful use stage 1 requirements, according to a study in Health Affairs.
These basic EHRs may not be delivering the expected quality and efficiency improvements to the FQHCs. Examining data on more than 1,100 FQHCs, researchers found the centers that could meet meaningful use stage 1 requirements were more than twice as likely as other FQHCs to receive federal recognition for quality care.
More articles on FQHCs:
EHRs: 50 things to know
Digital Divide Persists: FQHCs' Basic EHRs Not Delivering Benefits
eClinicalWorks Now Has Majority of Federally Qualified Health Center Market