KENTUCKY COMMUNITY HOSPITALS USING HMS EHR RECEIVE INCENTIVE PAYMENTS

Rockcastle Regional and Breckinridge Memorial earn stimulus funds for adopting electronic health records

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 24, 2011)—Healthcare Management Systems Inc. (HMS) announced today that the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has awarded HMS customers Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Breckinridge Memorial Hospital incentive payments from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for adopting electronic health records (EHRs). Rockcastle received a $629,782 payment on March 4 and Breckinridge received a $194,010 payment on Feb. 25. Both hospitals use HMS EHR financial and clinical IT applications. The stimulus funds were made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Medicaid incentive payments began this year to assist with the purchase or upgrade of information technology systems for healthcare records. To qualify for future federal dollars, hospitals must demonstrate meaningful use of an EHR system certified by an authorized testing and certification body of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC-ATCB). HMS’ IT applications for inpatient services, emergency departments and physician practices have all been certified.

“Successful EHR adoption depends on careful planning, which includes working with a vendor that will be a real partner throughout the process. That’s what HMS has been to us since we became a customer in 2007,” said Cindy Burton, chief nursing officer of Rockcastle Regional Hospital. “We’re continuing to work together to improve process productivity and patient care.”

Jenny Bradley, information technology director at Breckinridge Memorial Hospital, added, “This isn’t just about the technology; it’s about being willing to change methods and processes. Learning to use any technology takes time, effort and commitment, but our confidence in HMS continues to pay off for us, our patients and the community.”

“We’re extremely pleased to see these community hospitals moving forward successfully,” said Tom Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of HMS. “They are improving healthcare delivery and are among the first to receive the incentive payments that became available this year. HMS is proud to help Breckinridge and Rockcastle achieve adoption of these tools and qualify for stimulus funding.”

About HMS
Healthcare Management Systems Inc. (HMS) is a Nashville-based healthcare company that develops, sells and supports integrated clinical and financial hospital information systems and services designed to increase efficiency while improving patient safety. The HMS EHR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by Drummond Group, an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Founded in 1984, HMS currently serves more than 680 community hospitals; behavioral, rehabilitation and long-term acute-care facilities; and multi-entity healthcare organizations nationwide. For more information, please visit www.hmstn.com.

News media contact:
Eve Hutcherson
Director of Communications
ehutcherson@hmstn.com
615-732-7024