ASCO Symposium Helps Practices Leverage Health IT, Understand EHR Policy Changes

To help community oncology practices and large institutions navigate recent health-care policy changes and leverage health information technology (HIT) to improve the quality of care, ASCO will hold the 2011 HIT/EHR Symposium at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta on November 4–5.

“This symposium has sessions for those beginning their electronic health record [EHR] transition or for those more familiar with the technology,” said Peter Paul Yu, MD, Chair of the 2011 ASCO HIT/EHR Symposium Program Committee. “The topics covered represent a natural progression from previous ASCO symposiums and center on the broad concept of information management. This symposium has content for those preparing for EHR implementation as well as for more advanced early adopters of HIT who are seeking to leverage their investment.”

As payers and providers use new technology to improve efficiency and patient outcomes, ASCO supports the adoption of electronic health records and other technology to improve the quality of cancer care. To ensure that oncology practices are fully informed and equipped, the symposium will cover the full range of issues they face.

Fully understanding the EHR certification requirements to qualify for Meaningful Use Incentives, recent modifications by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to the eRx incentive program, and payment penalties for oncologists who fail to e-prescribe are just some of the most recent policy changes that challenge practices using or upgrading to EHR.

Symposium Topics

The 2011 Symposium sessions include:

• Navigating cultural and financial challenges with EHR implementation
• Streamlining the integration of information technology into everyday practice
• Using EHRs to improve quality and safety of care
• Qualifying for stage 1 Meaningful Use and understanding the objectives of stages 2 and 3
• Exploring new models of care such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) and patient-centered medical homes

Attendees will also have an opportunity for hands-on use of cutting-edge technology. The symposium will feature a challenge session for vendors, in which they are given a detailed patient case scenario and will be asked to demonstrate their effectiveness in performing several EHR tasks.

In addition to the symposium, ASCO has assembled several resources to help oncologists with the many issues surrounding health IT. ASCO has also developed technical standards for EHRs and has actively commented on related government legislation. For more information on ASCO’s EHR efforts, please visit www.asco.org/ehr, and for questions about these activities, e-mail ehr@asco.org. ■