AMA Offers Free Online Resources On Health It Adoption

Six-part online series will help simplify health IT decision-making and implementation process

As part of its ongoing effort to help physicians adopt health information technology (health IT), the American Medical Association (AMA) recently introduced a new series of online tutorials on the issue. The series of six short narrated modules provides step-by-step instructions to help physicians choose, purchase and implement the best technology systems for their practice.

"It is important that physicians take the time to find the right technology system for their practice, and we are committed to helping them with that goal," said AMA Board Secretary Steven J. Stack, M.D. "This online series can help make that process easier, particularly for physicians in small or solo practices."

The CME-accredited series enables physicians and their staff to align health IT with their patient and practice needs. The tutorials last about eight minutes each and cover all aspects of health IT adoption, including adoption strategy and needs assessment, workflow analysis, technology selection, training and implementation.

The use of health IT can help physicians make better decisions about appropriate treatment plans, provide timely access to patients' complete medical histories and enable them to determine the best treatment plan for their patients. Physicians who meet meaningful use requirements for health IT can also begin receiving federal incentives this year.

Additional health IT resources, including information on the federal incentives and demonstrating meaningful use, are available on the AMA web site.

SOURCE: The American Medical Association