Reminder: Month to Month Contracts for Legacy Vendors

October 5, 2009

Alberta physicians currently using a legacy or non-qualified service provider electronic medical record (EMR) vendor whose contracts have expired, are being reminded that renewing or entering into long-term contracts with their current vendors may affect their Physician Office System Program (POSP) funding.

POSP has moved into a new phase of the program, with the three qualified service providers (MD Physician Services (formerly Practice Solutions), Med Access and Wolf Medical Systems) offering complete EMR solutions that comply with VCUR 2008 standards. Physicians who are currently using an EMR product using VCUR 2006 standards will be required to transition to the new solutions within a reasonable timeframe to continue POSP funding. Physicians who sign long-term contracts with legacy EMR vendors may jeopardize future POSP funding.

If a contract has expired with a legacy EMR vendor, physicians are encouraged to only sign month to month contracts to ensure their continued eligibility in POSP. Physicians should pay particular attention to termination provisions in any contract that comes up for renewal during the transition period in order to:

• Ensure support is available up to the time of transition
• Ensure that they have access to all data at a predictable and reasonable cost
• Can terminate the contract without penalty at short notice, e.g., one or two months

If you have questions about your contract renewal or extension, please contact your change management advisor. If you do not know who your change management advisor is contact POSP at 780.452.1616 or toll free at 1.866.817.3875.