If the federal government wants healthcare providers to align their existing EHRs and EMRs with the meaningful use criteria, it needs to set an example on the federal level so the rest of the market can follow. The Indian Health Service (IHS) has stepped up to the plate in that regard.

IHS' Office of Information Technology released a report outlining its health IT agenda, which includes upgrading its EHR system - Resource Patient Management System (RPMS) - to comply with the meaningful use criteria. The Office of IT will beef up its staff and contractors to optimize RPMS' implementation.

Later this year and into next year IHS will support a Master Patient Index and health information exchange requirements, and connect to the Nationwide Health Information Network.

IHS has other health IT initiatives lined up this year, but the HIE support work and EHR upgrade and certification are the ones of most importance to healthcare providers. If IHS sticks to its game plan and meets its milestones without too much friction and loss of productivity, healthcare providers should be more confident about realigning their systems.

IHS will not be alone among federal agencies to readjust health IT programs in light of the meaningful use requirements. As more come on board this year, the comfort level to meet meaningful use should rise.