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Health Information Technology and Free Clinics
Dr. Jacobs: I noticed on the NAFC Website that one of the legislative priorities (Sidebar 3) is the expansion of health information technology to include free and charitable clinics. Tell us more about this priority.
Ms. Lamoureux: This is a perfect example of where free and charitable clinics, along with so many other safety-net providers, were not taken into consideration when it came to funding health information systems. We are not eligible for any of the incentive payments that were passed in the reform legislation.
If you are on an operating budget of less than $100,000, or even $1 million, it is a major challenge to transform your entire practice to an electronic medical record (EMR) system. This is especially true for nonprofit clinics that use a large number of volunteers as the delivery model. They need to find an EMR system that is affordable, practical, easy to use, and easy to train, and that makes sense administratively and clinically.
Healthcare information technology is one of the areas in which we would like a level playing field for our clinics. At this time, we don't have it. More grants are needed for free and charitable clinics to have the opportunity to purchase EMRs that meet meaningful use guidelines and that will enable information to flow from the clinic to the hospital, and even more important, to enable information to flow from the emergency department to the clinic.
Because our clinics rely on volunteers, staff, donations for medications, laboratory tests, services, and equipment, the NAFC is looking for opportunities to help clinics acquire EMRs. This is why this area is such a major legislative priority for us.
Dr. Jacobs: Is the NAFC working on any other legislative issues that affect free clinics?
Ms. Lamoureux: As your readers know, medical malpractice is a very important issue for everyone. We are excited to say that the Federal Tort Claims Act now covers malpractice for both our staff and our volunteers. That was a legislative victory for the many partnerships across the country that worked together to get this passed.
The continued expansion of the Federal Tort Claims Act to include the free clinic entity and to incorporate charitable clinics remains a priority for us.
Closing Comments
Dr. Jacobs: As we close, I would again like to refer our readers to the NAFC's Website for further information on free and charitable clinics, including an extensive bibliography.
One final question, Nicole. You suggested the title for this interview: "America's Best-Kept Healthcare Secret." What led you to make that recommendation?
Ms. Lamoureux: No matter how many speeches I deliver around the country, no matter how many television interviews I do, I still hear people say, "I didn't know these clinics existed; how do I get involved?"
People are generally not aware of the tremendous value of this major movement. Free and charitable clinics truly are America's best kept healthcare secret, and yet we continue to play a critical role in the healthcare delivery system in this country by building a healthy America, 1 patient at a time.
Dr. Jacobs: Thank you so much for sharing this extensive information on a very important topic that our readers might not find elsewhere.
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