September 14, 2012 — DR Systems announced that its cloud-based ambulatory electronic health record (EHR) for radiologists, the e|HR Meaningful Use for Medical Imaging solution, is now commercially available after successfully completing beta testing.
The launch of the radiology-based EHR was timed so that radiologists can meet the approaching deadline for complying with meaningful use requirements. Radiologists and their practices can receive federal bonus payments of up to $44,000 per radiologist by implementing a complete, certified ambulatory EHR such as DR System's e|HR. To receive the full incentive payment, meaningful use compliance — not just acquisition — must be achieved by Oct. 3, 2012.
"Many radiology practices are concerned about the staff workflow burden of an EHR," said Chuck Scudelari, chief operating officer of Pueblo Radiology Medical Group (Santa Barbara, Calif.), one of the beta test facilities. "But there is no substantive staff workflow burden with the EHR from DR Systems. It provides excellent value for the federal bonus payments, and the workflow fits nicely within the existing registration process. Plus, we're seeing that it provides other benefits for our radiology practice in addition to satisfying meaningful use."
An estimated 90 percent of radiologists are eligible for radiology incentive payments from the CMS, according to the American College of Radiology. Radiologists will have to qualify before this October to earn the full $44,000, as the total incentive payment goes down each year. Failure to comply with meaningful use requirements will eventually subject radiologists and others to financial penalties.
"Radiologists come out way ahead by deploying a system such as ours," said Murray Reicher, M.D., FACR, DR Systems co-founder and chairman. "First, they earn a substantial, five-figure incentive payment that far exceeds the cost of the system. Second, they actually improve patient care and the efficiency of their radiology workflow, including the collection of patient information and integration of that information with the EHR."
DR Systems' e|HR includes a feature that enables highly efficient collection of patient information. Patients can pre-register via the Internet or in the radiology practice's waiting room. Their information is then automatically fed into the EHR. Other features include:
- No hardware purchase or resident software. As a cloud-based system, e|HR works entirely with browser technology. It can be efficiently deployed by both individuals and large group practices.
- Vendor neutrality, offering plug-in and standalone options. This cloud-based technology can be "plug-and-play" with any radiology information system (RIS), picture archiving and communication system (PACS), hospital information system (HIS), electronic medical record (EMR) or personal health record (PHR) through an interface for seamless operation. It can also be used as a standalone system.
- Interoperability for efficient data aggregation. The cloud-based design enables radiologists who work at multiple locations to easily aggregate their data, which is a requirement for reporting to CMS.
- Single, radiology-centric solution. Designed by radiologists for radiologists, e|HR is customized for a medical imaging professional's workflow, including decision support tailored to a radiologist's needs. Because it is a complete system, it does not require aggregating data from other certified modules.
For more information: www.drsysehr.com
July 25, 2024 
