Indian Health Service Takes the Lead on Meaningful-use Capabilities

The Resource and Patient Management System, the electronic health-record system developed by the Indian Health Service, announced it has been certified as capable of meeting HHS' criteria through which providers can meet meaningful-use targets and receive federal financial incentives for health IT adoption.

Thus, the IHS becomes the first federal agency whose EHR system has achieved certification under the incentive program, according to a news release (PDF). The IHS provides healthcare services to 2 million American Indians and Alaska natives in 35 states.

RPMS, which derives from and remains closely related to the Veterans Affairs Department's VistA EHR system, is used at more than 280 IHS, tribal and urban Indian healthcare sites, according to the IHS.