Arizona Regional Extension Center Has Record Recruitment Month
Free membership extended a final time to enable electronic health record and Meaningful Use success among as many health care providers as possible
The Arizona Regional Extension Center (REC) is pleased to announce that 228 members joined the REC in February, placing Arizona third in the nation for REC enrollment last month. Nationwide, RECs have collectively recruited over 50,000 members--this marks the halfway point toward the nationwide REC recruitment goal of 100,000 health care providers.
Here in Arizona, nearly 900 providers have joined the REC to receive electronic health record technical assistance services to assist with Meaningful Use success. These members are truly leaders in advancing health information technology in Arizona!
The REC originally planned to offer free membership to qualifying providers who joined the REC by February 28, 2011. However, due to the positive response to REC services and the continued interest from providers in joining the REC, the free membership option will be extended to June 30, 2011. After June 30, there will be a fee structure associated with REC membership and services so that the REC can meet its federal grant match obligation.
A major factor in determining the extension of REC free membership to qualified providers is the recognition that the costs associated with implementing, upgrading or optimizing an electronic health record system is a significant barrier to achieving Meaningful Use success. Some RECs have estimated that the assistance services a REC member receives have a market value of $25,000--no insignificant cost for a small practice!
The REC hopes that by extending the free membership option, it will enable as many providers in Arizona as possible to become health information technology leaders; achieve Meaningful Use success and federal incentives, if eligible; and, collectively create a healthier Arizona through health information technology.
We invite you to forward this Alert to your networks and colleagues.
