PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Len Berkstresser’s talk will focus on the changing technology landscape in the healthcare field with a focus on meaningful use and other governmental incentive programs.  He’ll touch on Stage 1 and 2, PQRI/S and ICD 10, as well as the penalties and security issues these technologies present.  Len will explain the Regional Extension Center model established by the federal government, their mission and direction moving forward.  He will also review the division’s goal to provide physicians with consultation services thru one source of trusted partners vetted by the University of South Florida.   SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY As Business Development Director for PaperFree Florida, the Regional Extension Center (REC) at the University of South Florida, Len has the responsibility to help physician practices negotiate the Federal Meaningful Use Incentive program(s) for adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHRs).The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, a component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, represents the Nation’s first substantial commitment of Federal resources to support the widespread adoption of EHRs.  Each eligible provider (EPs) has significant steps they must take to capture the incentive funding for this program.  As one of 62 RECs around the country, USF has a grant to support this mission and has been engaged doing so for nearly three years.Our goal has been to provide consultative services to help EPs achieve meaningful use of a certified electronic health record and to provide support services to facilitate their attestation. Len approaches his position with an understanding of physician needs due to his background in health care and healthcare education.  As a tenured Merck employee, he spent a considerable amount of time working with physicians on a day-to-day basis.  As a health educator at the University of South Florida, Len organized accredited CME programming for physicians, pharmacists and nurses.  He has a background as an EMT, an undergraduate degree in biology/chemistry and a master’s degree in business administration.  He has also worked in the telecommunications field and has a unique perspective on connectivity, premise-based applications, cloud software, VM Ware and network infrastructure.  SHE Member 27.37 Guest/Non-Member 37.92