Question # 6: Now that we have an idea of CMS’s thinking about “meaningful use”, can you comment on whether you would have changed your implementation

Considering the probable meaningful use criteria, we would have not changed our implementation approach. It has always been our goals to use the full functionality of an EHR, to eliminate paper, to streamline our processes through technology and to treat our patients using the Chronic Care Model and through population management. These criteria are realistic for clinics to achieve, provided adequate funding, technical resources, training and vendor cooperation for interoperability are made available. Additionally, public organizations which allow participation from all stakeholders will need to be created to create standards that are open, unambiguous, comprehensive and technically easy to implement that will facilitate the implementation of meaningful use criteria.