{"id":5326,"date":"2013-09-26T12:00:38","date_gmt":"2013-09-26T16:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.healthit.gov\/buzz-blog\/?p=5326"},"modified":"2026-01-06T01:46:42","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T01:46:42","slug":"wow-1000-critical-access-small-rural-hospitals-meet-meaningful-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthit.gov\/blog\/rural-health\/wow-1000-critical-access-small-rural-hospitals-meet-meaningful-challenge\/","title":{"rendered":"Wow! Over 1000 critical access and small, rural hospitals meet the Meaningful Use challenge!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last year, we issued a nationwide challenge<\/a> to see 1000 critical access hospitals (CAHs) and small, rural hospitals get to Meaningful Use by 2014. The call to action was met with support; we could feel everyone roll up their sleeves in unison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July 31, 2013, we passed the goal with 1,115 (65%) CAHs and small, rural hospitals achieving Meaningful Use. Specifically, 62% (approximately 822 of 1,332) of CAHs and 77% (approximately 293 of 383) of small, rural hospitals (those generally with less than 50 staffed beds) had attested to meaningful use of EHRs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small Rural and Critical Access Hospitals that Attested to Meaningful Use Cover the Nation
The small rural and CAHs that have achieved this milestone are well distributed across the country \u2013 success has not been limited to one region. The map below illustrates the nationwide distribution of the CAHs and small rural hospitals that attested to Meaningful Use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Figure:<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges faced by Small Rural and Critical Access Hospitals Achieving Meaningful Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

These hospitals face unique challenges because of their:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Remote geographic location,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Small size and low patient-volume,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Limited workforce,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Shortage of clinicians,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Constrained financial resources and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Lack of adequate, affordable connectivity<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Safety net hospitals made huge gains in Meaningful Use since 2011 <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    With hard work and grit, these safety-net hospitals have made amazing progress since 2011, despite the real challenges they face. The two figures below show the pathway of CAHs and of small, rural hospitals to Meaningful Use, respectively, between January 2011 and July 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"Figure:<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"Note<\/a>
    Note on legend: Hospitals were categorized into 1 of 6 hierarchical and mutually exclusive categories:
    (1) Attested, Paid \u2013 hospitals have received payment for successfully attesting to Stage 1 Meaningful Use under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.
    (1) Attested, Not Paid\u2013 hospitals successfully attested to Stage 1 Meaningful Use under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program but have not yet received payment.
    (2) AIU only \u2013 hospitals received Medicaid EHR Incentive Program payment for AIU but not yet attested or received payment for attesting to Meaningful Use.
    (3) Registered EHR incentive program \u2013 hospitals registered for the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program but had not yet attested or received payment for AIU or Meaningful Use.
    (4) Enrolled REC \u2013 hospitals enrolled with a Health IT Regional Extension Center but not yet registered for the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.
    (5) Not participating \u2013 hospitals not registered for the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and not enrolled with an REC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Rising to the Meaningful Use Challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Many rural and CAHs are trailblazers; these hospitals are leading the way toward leveraging health IT to transform and improve the delivery of care to their rural communities.  They help us show case leading practices that may help shape the path for other organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Read more about how one CAH in Michigan, Harbor Beach Community Hospital<\/a>, used Meaningful Use as a jumping off point to accelerate its progress to becoming a certified Patient Centered Medical Home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2012 and 2013 Critical Access and Rural Hospital Champion Award<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    While we can\u2019t thank everybody, those who received the Critical Access and Rural Hospital Champion Award from the National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari in 2012 and 2013 are listed below.  This award recognizes the groundbreaking collaborative efforts these individuals  have taken with public and private sector partners to accelerate Meaningful Use among CAHs and small, rural hospitals nationwide. What we\u2019re most delighted to note about this award is that it is also in recognition of continued collaborations since 2012. These awards are not simply for a single instance of dedicated effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Critical Access and Rural Hospital Champion Award Recipients<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    2012<\/th>2012<\/th>2012<\/th>2013<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Barry Little
    Bill Sonterre
    Brock Slabach
    Chuck Christian
    Harry Wolin
    Jac Davies
    Joe Wivoda
    Kay Gooding
    Kevin Driesen<\/td>    		Louis Wenzlow
    Lynette Dickson
    Melissa Hungerford
    Patricia Alafaireet
    Patricia Dombrowski
    Paul Kleeberg
    Phil Deering
    Randy McCleese
    <\/td>    		Roger Holloway
    Sally Buck
    Shanti Wilson
    Tammy Flick
    Terry Alexander
    Terry Hill
    Val Schott
    Kathy Whitmire
    <\/td>    		Bill Menner
    David Willis
    Ed Gamache
    Jessica Zufolo
    Kendra Siler-Marsiglio
    Mark Renfro
    Marty Fattig
    Norma Morganti<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    ONC is continuing to support CAHs and small, rural hospitals in achieving Meaningful Use<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here are four examples of ONC\u2019s efforts to support these rural safety-net hospitals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n