How are the evaluations conducted and what is evaluated?
Pursuant to PHSA Section 3012(c)(8), as added by ARRA, a biennial evaluation of each Regional Extension Center is conducted by an evaluation panel appointed by the Secretary of HHS. Each evaluation panel is composed of federal officials in addition to private experts, none of whom are connected with the Regional Extension Center involved. Each evaluation panel measures the involved Center’s performance against the statutory objectives of the Regional Extension Center program (PHSA Section 3012(c)(3), as added by ARRA) and against the performance objectives established in the cooperative agreement, including participation in the program’s national learning consortium and progress towards the provider-specific milestones. This assessment places significant emphasis on the proportion of priority primary-care providers receiving direct technical assistance that were able to achieve successful adoption and meaningful use of certified EHR systems.
