Hospital board approves $64,600 to buy software

At the meeting of the Jefferson County Health Center Board of Trustees Monday, CEO Deb Cardin asked the board for approval of a $64,600 capital expenditure that was not included in the budget.

?It involves [information technology]. It?s software that we need to meet the ?meaningful use,?? said Cardin.

To meet the meaningful use criteria, the health center must demonstrate its use of certified electronic health records: in a meaningful manner; for electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of health care, and; to submit clinic quality and other measures.

Once Jefferson County Health Center meets the requirements, it will receive financial incentives provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that are designed to support the transition from paper to electronic records.

?We have to prove we were compliant for 90 days, so we need to get this as soon as possible,? Cardin said.

She added the health center would hopefully get 90 percent of the money back in financial incentives.

A motion was made and approved unanimously.

In other business, significant changes in the health center?s operations from financial year 2009 to 2010 were detailed during the auditor?s report.

For the complete article, see the Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.