"America's Top Docs" Gets IT

You can almost hear the squeal of tires and smell the burning rubber.

In the week since the Health and Human Services Department released final rules governing meaningful use of electronic health records, the rollout of health IT has jumped the gate and begun to gain traction:

Castle Connolly Medical, whose publication of America's Top Doctors serves as something of a Consumer Reports for rating MDs, has announced that it will "begin to recognize physicians who have made the decision to incorporate 'meaningful use' of health information technology in their practices," reports Healthcare IT News.

New York Governor David A. Paterson has made available $140 million in grants to health facilities across the state to advance health IT and support capital restructuring and long-term care improvements, reports CMIO.

And on Tuesday, a family physician testified before the House Ways and Means subcommittee on health that his use of electronic medical records recently prevented a potentially serious medication error involving a disoriented elderly patient.

"I am here to testify as to what meaningful use of electronic medical records can do for a small medical practice," Dr. Eugene Heslin told lawmakers. "My patients are why meaningful use of health IT is important."

Vroom! Vroom!