​Initially designed to raise national awareness of health information technology, National Health IT week offers the opportunity for some celebration in its eighth year.  Today more than 38 percent of physicians have adopted a basic electronic health record and over 145,000 providers, supported by Regional Extension Centers nationwide, are moving through the stages of meaningful use – a set of standards that governs the use of electronic health records.   

More progress must be made, but it is increasingly accepted that comprehensive health care reform is not possible without system-wide adoption of health information technology. Many providers have actively embraced it and are seeing improved quality of health care delivery, increased patient safety, and have strengthened the interaction between patients and health care providers.

The Pennsylvania Regional Extension & Assistance Center for Health IT (PA REACH) serves over 5,900 Pennsylvania health care providers, including primary care physicians, specialists, hospitals and critical access hospitals. PA REACH has already helped 3,767 providers reach Meaningful Use stage 1.

"Meaningful Use is a difficult lesson.  But, as we all learned in medical school and residency, the hardest lessons are the most important to master," said Michael A. Becker, DO, MS, FACOFP, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  “Once these lessons are learned, patients and clinicians greatly benefit from all of the positive outcomes these educational processes produce.”

“The PA REACH team is comprised of health IT experts that are providing ‘boots on the ground’ technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to ensure that our health care providers here in Pennsylvania have the tools and knowledge needed to achieve Stage 1 Meaningful Use,” said Anita Somplasky, PA REACH Executive Director.  “We know this transition can be difficult and we’re dedicated to helping our providers through the entire process both now and in the future.”

The integration of health IT into medical practices will continue to improve care coordination and communication for patients everywhere. As Health IT continues to play an important role in changing health care the RECs are prepared to deliver ongoing support to a wide variety of providers.