Dr. Mark Wisner, D.O., was named an inaugural Meaningful Use Vanguard, or MUVer, by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology during the program’s first recognition ceremony on January 12. In Colorado, only about 275 of more than 2,500 primary care providers and two Critical Access Hospitals have adopted and achieved “Meaningful Use” of electronic medical records. Meaningful use, initiated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, requires that medical providers attest that they meet standards, set forth by the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services, demonstrating they are using certified EHR technology in ways that can be measured significantly in quality and in quantity. The three components of meaningful use include using certified EHR technology in a meaningful way (such as e-prescribing), in electronic exchange of health information, and in submitting data to meet clinical quality measures.

The nationwide network of Regional Extension Centers, together with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), established the Meaningful Use Vanguard (MUV) program to honor and connect health care providers who demonstrate their commitment to significantly improve the quality of patient care through the use of certified health information technology. Dr. Wisner, who opened Boulder Peak Family Practice in September 2009, immediately implemented electronic records in his medical office. MUVers are an exclusive group of EHR early adopters with meaningful use that serve as local leaders, advisors and role models in the move toward an electronically-enabled health care system.

Electronic health records are an improvement over paper-based recording. The technology-based system has proven to provide a reduction in errors, accessibility of records and data, reminders and alerts, clinical decision support, and e-prescribing/refill automation.