Digital Record Time Frame

BOONE, Iowa---The Boone County Hospital Board of Trustees last week reviewed a time frame for moving ahead with mandated digital records. The Board expects work to begin on putting a system in place in early 2012 and completed by the end of 2013. The mandate requires that a system be operational for at least 90 days. Reimbursement opportunity will diminish in 2015. Hospital Chief Executive Officer Joe Smith has said the project could be about $5 million. Estimated expenses for the hospital range from $500,000 to $1.4 million.