How will ARRA/HITECH impact organizations that already have an EMR?
The impact will depend on the EMR vendor’s plan for certification. If your current EMR becomes certified, your facility will then need to use the EMR functionality to meet the other qualifications for meaningful use (MU). If the EMR vendor has no plans for certification, your facility will then need to decide to forego meaningful use or change EMR vendors. The important task is to have conversations with your current EMR vendor to find out their plans. Q: I would like to understand the impact that the EMR will have on our current LIS system and a general overview of how things will change for us in the lab, if at all. A: If the EHR vendor obtains certification, there should be no impact on the current LIS, especially if the LIS is interfaced to the EHR. If the current EHR vendor has no plans for certification, the facility will need to determine whether or not to replace the current EHR in order to qualify for meaningful use. If there is a change in the EHR, the LIS will need to be int
