Local Family Physician Recognized as Leader in Implementation of Electronic Health Records

[Cold Spring, Minnesota] – Local health care provider Christopher Wenner, MD is being recognized Monday, December 5, 2011, by the Regional Extension Center for Health Information Technology (REACH) for his leadership in the nationwide transition toward electronic health records (EHR). He is one of the first providers in Minnesota to attest to meaningful use for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. REACH is the regional extension center designated by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to assist clinicians in Minnesota and North Dakota on becoming meaningful users of electronic health records. REACH is pleased to welcome Dr. Wenner into an exclusive group of leaders – the Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUV).

As a solo family physician, Dr. Wenner operates a comprehensive family medicine clinic in Cold Spring, Minnesota, that is certified as a medical home. Dr. Wenner is one of over 3,000 providers across Minnesota and North Dakota that REACH is helping to adopt and become effective users of EHRs.

"REACH is delighted to recognize Dr. Wenner for achieving meaningful use of his electronic health record system and becoming a Meaningful Use Vanguard," said Sue Severson, REACH program director. "He was able to attest to meaningful use in an expeditious fashion, showing his dedication and commitment to improving the quality of patient care through the use of certified HIT. We hope his example will encourage other clinicians to follow in his footsteps."

Dr. Wenner will receive one of the first incentive payments in Minnesota made under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments are available to eligible professionals and hospitals when they adopt, implement, upgrade, or demonstrate meaningful use of a certified electronic health record.

Dr. Wenner intends to use his EHR to continue to improve patient care. Reminders for preventative screening and immunizations, as well as registry features to aid in chronic disease management, will be used to support his practice as a medical home. The meaningful use and medical home requirements dovetail well to facilitate better patient care. "I can access my records from anywhere—I don’t have to be in the office," Wenner explained the benefits of his EHR. "I’m able to allow my patients access to their medical records via my portal. I’m able to email after-visit summaries."

Small practices like Dr. Wenner’s are challenged by not having on-site technical support and having to understand all aspects of the meaningful use rule. "I really valued the help that REACH gave to me. It would have been much more challenging for me to do this by myself," Wenner said.

MUV is an initiative of ONC, and is designed to honor, thank, and bring together clinicians from clinics and hospitals, like Dr. Wenner, who have successfully implemented electronic health records. MUVers (members of the MUV program) serve as local leaders and advisors in the nation’s transition toward an electronically-enabled health care system.

Press Release [PDF - 169.89 KB]