Number of Primary-Care Providers Using RECs Tops 100,000

If you’re provider who is working with a Regional Extension Center (REC) to achieve meaningful use, you’ve got plenty of good company.

The number of providers who signed up to adopt EHRs through 62 RECs throughout the country has finally hit the six figures, the HHS Office for the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has announced.

“The RECs are playing an integral role in helping providers on the path to EHR adoption,” said Farzad Mostashari, a representative from the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, in a press release. “This compelling milestone demonstrates strong interest in adoption and meaningful use among community health centers, small practices, and rural providers that can lead to improvements in health and healthcare.”

According to HHS, half the providers committed to making the transition to certified EHRs are in small group practices or consortia of small group practices. The remaining providers focus on the underserved with 18 percent in community health centers, 11 percent in public hospitals, and 21 percent in other underserved settings, such as critical access hospitals, rural health clinics, and practices in medically underserved areas.

The news is testament to not only the government’s recruiting tactics, but the fact that providers are committed to achieving meaningful use, healthcare consultant Bruce Kleaveland told Physicians Practice.

“Primary care physicians are interested in receiving meaningful use incentives and transitioning to the EHR, and RECs have been effective in recruiting physicians to help them achieve this goal,” said Kleaveland. “Since the 100,000 number was the goal set by the HHS, they have effectively achieved their goal, which is impressive the scope of the project.”

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