Program overview
Early Adopter Program
The following is an overview of the Early Adopter Program
[Download Early Adopter Program Forms]
Program Objective
To encourage groups who participated in the Primary Care IT (PCIT) program to upgrade their EMR’s to a current version (Spec 3.0).
Eligible Providers
Primary care groups whose PCIT monthly subsidy payments have expired or will soon expire are eligible to apply under the Early Adopter Program.
- All physicians must complete or have completed the EMR User Survey within 12 months prior to the application date
- For the duration of the funding period, the group’s participating physicians must use the same EMR
Overview Available Funding
The program will provide the following:
- A $400 per month subsidy per provider
- Connectivity from eHealth Ontario
Retroactive Funding
Funding may be available retroactively to April 1, 2009 or to the date that PCIT Monthly Subsidy ended, whichever is later
For full details see the OntarioMD website.
EMR Use requirements
Participating physicians must use the EMR where possible for the following functions:
- Make patient appointments.
- Bill for services.
- Enter encounter notes for patients seen.
- Enter problem lists for patients seen.
- Store patient care related documents not originated from an EMR, which contain information not already within the EMR.
- Make new prescriptions / renewals.
- Generate automated alerts / reminders to support care delivery.
- Receive lab results electronically, directly into the EMR from the private labs supported by the EMR Specification that are used by the physician.
Program Timelines
Application Deadline: Groups can apply for funding up to January 31, 2012, subject to the following:
- If the PCIT Monthly Subsidy for a funded physician position ended before December 1, 2009 the application for Early Adopter EMR Upgrade Funding for that position must be submitted to OntarioMD by January 31, 2010; and
- If the PCIT Monthly Subsidy for a funded physician position ends after November 30, 2009, the applications for Early Adopter EMR Upgrade Funding for that physician position must be submitted to OntarioMD within sixty (60) days of the expiration of the PCIT Monthly Subsidy date.
Funding Agreement Deadline: The Early Adopter EMR Upgrade Funding Agreement must be signed by the Group and received by OntarioMD before February 28, 2012.
Notes on eHealth funding commitment
While there is no current reason to believe that eHealth Ontario would be unable to provide funding to March 31, 2012, funding commitments for the Early Adopter Program received by OntarioMD annually and are subject to change.
Early Adopter Forms
Electronic Funds Transfer Form
EMR Connectivity Guidelines v1.2
