Regional Extension Centers (RECs) are located in every region of the country to help health care providers select, implement, and become adept and meaningful users of electronic health records (EHR). RECs are equipped with the personnel and resources to support and advise eligible providers in all phases of the EHR adoption and implementation cycle. RECs offer a wide range of valuable services to support the EHR implementation process. Services may include:

• Outreach, education, and health IT training
• EHR support and financial consultation (such as working with vendors, or helping providers choose a certified EHR system)
• Practice/workflow redesign
• EHR implementation support and project management
• Security risk assessments or referrals to security consultants
• Meaningful use assistance, including advice for providers about the reporting required to receive incentive payments and navigating the attestation process
• Connections to state and national health information exchange (HIE) efforts
• Ongoing technical assistance in implementing health IT and using it in a meaningful way to improve care

Contact your local REC to find out if you are eligible for free or reduced-price local EHR implementation support.

For more information about vendor support during EHR implementation and how your local REC can help you develop and manage vendor relationships, see How are Regional Extension Centers different from vendors and IT consultants?