EOMC gets $2 Million

July 19, 2011

EOMC first rural hospital in the state to receive incentive payments

Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center is the first rural hospital in the State of Oklahoma to receive incentive payments under both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs; part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Their efforts have been rewarded with $2 million in incentive payments within the past 5 months. This program is in conjunction with a nationwide initiative from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to demonstrate “meaningful use” of an Electronic Health Record.
EOMC has been committed to implementing this system and working towards this goal for the past two years. They are committed to improving quality, safety and efficiency through the use of the electronic health record and these incentive payments have greatly assisted in furthering this goal.
However, they are not finished. They have completed Stage one of a 3-step process that will take place over the next several years. Once complete the Electronic Health Record will enable EOMC to provide specialists and other health care facilities with health information quickly and efficiently in cases of emergencies to assist the patient in transitioning their care to other health care providers. It will also assist the patients in the ability to obtain their own health care information in an electronic format, i.e. (flash drive) so that their health care information is portable and easily accessible.
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center is licensed to operate 82 acute care beds and has an average daily census of 28 patients. The LeFlore County Commissioners, Ceb Scott, Lance Smith and Derwin Gist appoint the Board of Trustees to the Hospital Authority. Members of the Board of Trustees are G.R. (Rod) Fulsom, Chairman, Page; Wayne Hoffman, Treasurer, Cameron; Aud Balentine, Secretary, Wister; Jim Linville, Member, Spiro; Mary Helen Lucas, Member, Poteau; Mike Andrews, Member, Heavener; and Dr. Ken Hammond, Member, Poteau.
Dean Warren serves as legal counsel to the board of Trustees.