For more information, contact:
Susan Burns / MPRO
(248) 465-7375 / sburns@mpro.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Deadline Approaches for Physicians to Sign Up For Electronic Info System Guidance
Free help available to Michigan Physicians

(Farmington Hills, MI, June 16, 2006)  Time is running out for Michigan doctors to sign up for a free assistance program that will help them adopt new technology and transform patient care (program deadline is July 7, 2006).  The federally funded initiative known as the “Doctor’s Office Quality Information Technology,” or simply DOQ-IT program is designed to help small and medium sized practices adopt electronic health- records (EHRs) systems.  EHRs give doctors immediate access to comprehensive important information about their patients. 

Approximately 90 physician practices in Michigan have enrolled to participate in DOQ-IT to date.  The program is set to serve 117 physician offices throughout the state.  Non-profit MPRO, Michigan’s Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, is leading this initiative in Michigan.  Funding for DOQ-IT comes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

“The use of EHRs can reduce dangerous medical and medication errors, reduce inefficiencies, improve communication and improve the delivery of patient care,” said Doug Render, MPRO EHR systems implementation advisor.  EHR adoption and implementation is confusing and expensive.  Render added, “MPRO clinicians provide physicians with important objective information as they explore this new technological frontier.” 

There’s good evidence that information technology can be used to improve health care for patients especially for those with chronic conditions such as diabetes.  “Through automated monitoring and alerts, doctors who implement EHRs, can receive important reminders on the need for routine testing to avoid complications,” said Jeffrey Deitch, DO, medical director, MPRO.  Here in Michigan, roughly 485 thousand adults have diabetes.   EHRs would prompt providers to remind patients with diabetes for example, of the need for special blood testing as well as regular eye and foot exams.

There is a nationwide push to revolutionize health care through the use of information technology.  President Bush has called for every American to have access to EHRs by 2014.  Despite this federal move, approximately 18 percent of physicians nationwide use EHRs. 

EHR systems are expensive.  Initial costs can average as much as $44,000 per physician and currently insurers and the government are not offering incentives to pick up the tab. “Physicians have an opportunity to tap into a national network of health care quality improvement organizations, like MPRO, with great experience in helping the small to medium sized practice adopt information technology,” said Render.  “For doctors who recognize the importance of computerizing their practices, but fear doing it on their own.

About MPRO
MPRO is the federally designated Quality Improvement Organization in Michigan.  Under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, MPRO works with hospitals, physicians’ offices, nursing homes and home health agencies statewide to improve the quality and delivery of health care.

This material was prepared by MPRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for Michigan, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. 8SOW-MI-T1D1-06-127