Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much will it cost? What options does Overlake offer? Here are answers to some of the most common questions about electronic medical records (EMR).
Why should I consider an EMR?
EMRs are quickly becoming the standard medical record and there are new “carrots” and “sticks” for EMR adoption for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. Research from quality and safety experts reveal that, among other improvements, EMRs reduce medical errors and enhance the continuity and quality of patient care.
Why now?
New government incentives make it easier for small physician practices to adopt an EMR. It's important that you act quickly to benefit from this government stimulus support.
Will the cost of getting an EMR be offset by government incentives?
While each physician and practice situation is different, government support and incentive payments for Medicare and Medicaid patients provide significant financial offsets to the cost of converting to an EMR. The maximum Medicare incentive is $44,000 over a 4 year period per physician for those that implement and “meaningfully” use an EMR.
Can I really get free help from the government?
WIREC, funded by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, was established to provide much-needed technical support and services to physicians. WIREC services are comprehensive, may be low cost or free and include:
- EHR Vendor Selection and Purchase assistance.
- EHR Implementation – onsite technical support, assistance with new features and upgrades and project management support.
- HIT-Related Work Flow – onsite work flow redesign and process improvement.
I've heard implementing an EMR is really hard. How can you help me?
As more and more physicians, hospitals and health systems have adopted EMRs, we’ve learned a lot. And while implementation of an EMR can be challenging because it’s different than what you do now, Overlake and WIREC have teamed up to make this transition as smooth as possible.
Why should I work with Overlake?
Working with the Overlake Network Exchange (ONE), helps connect you to an integrated EMR environment while maintaining your independent practice. Connecting with ONE will connect you to a network of affiliated providers to improve patient care to our community.
Patient information like labs, radiology, medications and more can be electronically shared between networked providers.
Will Overlake help me get through the governmental bureaucracy?
Overlake will work with you to help make this process as easy as possible.
