Michael Q. Stearns, MD, CPC, CFPC™
President and CEO
Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. is a board certified neurologist and one of the more experienced physician health care informaticists in the nation. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. has won several teaching awards and has 15 years of experience in clinical and academic medicine where his responsibilities included educating medical students and neurology residents. With more than 10 years of experience in the health information technology sector, Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. has provided leadership to several high profile projects at the National Library of Medicine, the National Cancer Institute, and the College of American Pathologists. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. played a key role in the development of SNOMED Clinical Terms, an evolving standard for the electronic transmission of clinical information being adopted worldwide. He also has over 8 years of direct experience with the design and implementation of electronic health records. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. is a Certified Professional Coder and Certified Family Practice Coder.
Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. has given numerous presentations at national and local venues on a diverse array of topics related to health information technology including electronic health records, health care information technology standards, health information exchanges, coding, clinical terminology, structured data capture, data integrity in information systems, the history of ICD-9-CM, SNOMED CT, quality of care improvements related to technology, clinical efficacy research, practice optimization, and genomic medicine. Michael Q. Stearns, M.D. is a member of the American Society of Health Information Managers Health IT Industry Advisory Panel, the Health Information Technology Standards Panel, and the American Association of Professional Coders' Family Practice Steering Committee.
as a Preferred EHR Vendor
AUSTIN, TX - 
, a leading provider of electronic health records (EHRs), announced they have been selected as an EHR vendor partner by HITArkansas, the state's federally designated Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (HITREC). HITArkansas works to promote the adoption and use of health IT by offering guidance, technical assistance and financial incentives to health care providers who want to make the transition to EHRs. will work with HITArkansas to help physicians manage efficient implementation and achievement of meaningful use of EHRs in a cost-effective manner.
was recognized as a preferred EHR vendor following an open RFP process and evaluation by a reviews committee comprised of membership from Arkansas Medical Society. The top 18 EHRs were invited to participate in a thorough technical evaluation where the list was narrowed to 12 vendors with whom terms and conditions as well as pricing was negotiated. The selected preferred vendors will offer Arkansas providers a pre-negotiated, vetted contract and a negotiated base price. All chosen EHR vendors met the ONC's EHR certification and meaningful use requirements and will work closely with HITArkansas in order to facilitate the implementation process. was selected based on affordability, remote hosting option, ePrescribing capability, CCHIT certification, ability to interface with a state health information exchange (HIE) system, system functionality and benefit to providers. met these criteria and was recognized as a sustainable, sound company with a proven track record of providing high-quality technology.
"HITArkansas is pleased to include among its preferred vendors," said Ray Hanley, President and CEO of Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC). "This company is well-suited to meet the needs of our state's health care providers who choose as their EHR vendor."
While HITArkansas has a "preferred" vendor list, the organization will support all practices, regardless of EHR vendor, as long as that vendor is ONC/ACTB certified.
"HITArkansas has made a proactive commitment to assist doctors in the State of Arkansas with transforming their practices through the use of electronic health records," said Michael Q. Stearns, MD, CEO of .
Michael Q. Stearns added, "We look forward to working with them on wide range of topics, including the attainment of Meaningful Use by providers, patient safety, patient privacy, compliance with clinical guidelines, and other areas of concern to their providers."
"These efforts will allow patients and providers to benefit from the effective use of health information technology in the state of Arkansas," Michael Q. Stearns said.
Selected by Medical Society of the State of New York
AUSTIN, TX - , a leading provider of electronic health records (EHRs), announced they have been selected as an EHR vendor partner by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY). MSSNY is a non-profit organization committed to representing the medical profession as a whole and advocating health related rights, responsibilities and issues. MSSNY will work with to encourage and facilitate the adoption of EHR technology by the state's healthcare providers. As a selected vendor, will help providers manage efficient implementation and achievement of Meaningful Use in a cost effective manner.
was one of six finalists to be chosen to participate in MSSNY's rigorous evaluation process. The vendors, who all service the one-to-ten provider group, were identified through their high KLAS ratings and asked to complete a 20-page functionality matrix answering detailed questions about their products. The vendor responses were reviewed by MSSNY's evaluation committee, consisting of five health information technology (HIT) and EHR proficient physicians, including the MSSNY HIT Chair, Dr. Salvatore Volpe, a leading HIT champion. The thorough evaluation process was conducted to identify "the best systems for our physician members," explained Dr. Volpe. "We needed to flush out important processes, which if omitted by the vendor could result in medical errors and place the patient at risk by introducing adverse medical complications."
was identified as a vendor partner capable of offering New York providers ample support, ease of use and optimal financial opportunities by adding EHR systems to their practice. was selected based on their affordability, ePrescribing capability, CCHIT certification, ability to interface with a State health information exchange (HIE) system, and system functionality and benefit to providers. MSSNY recognized as a sustainable, sound company with a proven track record of providing high-quality technology. Ultimately was chosen by MSSNY because of their shared vision for maintaining high standards in medical education and in the practice of medicine to ensure that quality medical care is available to the public.
"Our evaluation process was significantly thorough and only six vendors scored high enough to meet our expectations," said Ron Pucherelli, HIT Project Administrator for the Medical Society of the State of New York. "MSSNY is happy to announce that is one of our preferred vendors and we look forward to working with them and all our preferred vendors to provide our physicians with exceptional products and services."
" feels there is a great deal of synergy between our two organizations in the areas of clinical informatics," said Michael Q. Stearns, MD, and CEO of .
Michael Q. Stearns said that both organizastions shared a common "focus on quality of care, and physician leadership."
"We are looking forward to working closely with the physician, resident and student members of the Medical Society of the State of New York and supporting their educational objectives, and helping them become advanced users of health information technology," Michael Q. Stearns said.
