News Releases

Valley-based Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG) announced today the start of EHR University, a comprehensive series of five training sessions designed to help Arizona's primary care physicians adopt electronic health records (EHRs). As the Medicare quality improvement organization (QIO) of Arizona, HSAG is spearheading the state's participation in the national Doctors' Office Quality Information Technology (DOQ-IT) initiative.

EHR University is a core component of the Arizona DOQ-IT program. Each EHR University training session lasts two hours and is available at convenient evening time slots for busy physicians. Funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Arizona DOQ-IT program offers EHR University, on-site consultation, and numerous EHR tools and resources to small- to medium-sized physician offices serving Medicare recipients. Because EHR University is made available at no charge, space is limited to approximately 100 of the eligible 1,460 primary care practices throughout Arizona.

DOQ-IT also provides assistance in the following areas:

• Assessment of practice readiness for electronic health records.
• Assessment of practice work flows and efficiencies.
• Finding the electronic solution that best fits practice needs.
• Preparation and planning for an electronic health record implementation.
• Optimizing the use of electronic health record for better care management and practice improvement.

As the implementation of EHRs gains momentum, numerous health care community stakeholders are endorsing the Arizona DOQ-IT program. Supporting organizations include the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA), the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA), the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians (AzACP), the Maricopa County Medical Society and the Pima County Medical Society.

In addition to the state medical societies, the Arizona DOQ-IT program also has ties to the newly created Arizona Health-e Connection Roadmap Steering Committee. Started by Governor Janet Napolitano's through an executive order, the committee is responsible for exploring issues surrounding the creation of an e-health information infrastructure in Arizona. Members of this committee include HSAG's Richard G. Potter, CPA, vice president of operations, and Scott Endsley MD, medical director system design.

"There's a lot of activity taking place on national, state and local levels around EHRs. As a physician, I know that doctors need help sorting through all of the available information," said Endsley. "EHRs will soon be an integral part of everyday practice operations. EHR University is designed to help physicians in Arizona prepare for when that day arrives."

To enroll in EHR University or for more information on the DOQ-IT program, visit www.azdoqit.org or contact azdoqit@hsag.com.

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About Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG)
For 25 years HSAG has provided innovative leadership on health care quality improvement projects for federal, state and private sector clients. Founded by a team of medical professionals in 1979, HSAG is one of most experienced quality improvement organizations in the nation. HSAG is recognized as an agent of change in the health care industry because of the company's successful collaboration with providers across the continuum of care.