For Immediate Release 
Contact: Tracy Hartman 
thartman@aloftgroup.com 
978-462-0002 x103

Beacon Partners Study Reveals 47% of Healthcare Professionals Believe a Repeal of Healthcare Reform Will Have a Negative Impact on Patient Care
The Beacon Partners 2011 Healthcare Reform Study reveals how the industry feels about a repeal

WEYMOUTH, MA According to the Beacon Partners 2011 Healthcare Reform Study, 47% of respondents from the healthcare industry feel that a repeal would have a negative impact on patient care.

Over 300 attendees of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando at the end of February weighed in on the implications of Congress or the Federal Courts repealing all or components of the healthcare reform legislation at healthcare management consulting firm Beacon Partnersí booth via an electronic survey.

Two-thirds of the respondents were senior level healthcare industry executives (CEO, President, COO, Executive VP, CFO, VP Finance, CIO, VP of MIS, CTO, CMO, CMIO. Chief of Staff, etc.)

With Meaningful Use a top priority for many healthcare organizations, the study also found that the ability to sustain their financial investment was the top concern to achieve Meaningful Use, and that 70% feel that clinicians will be only ìsomewhatî willing to adopt changes necessary to achieve Meaningful Use.

It is important that we remember why the industry is going down this path in the first place, and that is to improve overall patient care through the implementation of electronic medical records, explains Ralph P. Fargnoli, Jr., president and CEO of Beacon Partners. Taking a step backward at this stage would be quite disruptive and creates a high level of uncertainty to the many healthcare organizations that are far down the road in this process. The negative feelings from the results of this study support all that we are seeing and hearing from healthcare organizations across the country.

Other findings from the study:

Percentage who believe the new Congress or Federal Court will be successful in repealing at least some portion of the healthcare reform legislation:   

• Yes: 51%
• No: 33%
• Unsure: 16%

The top concern about the financial investments necessary to achieve Meaningful Use:

• Sustainability: 30%
• Capital Cost: 20%
• Staffing: 18%
• Operating Cost: 11%
• Vendor Commitment: 11%
• Time: 10%

Level of willingness clinicians are/will be in adopting the changes you've made/are about to make to achieve Meaningful Use:

• Somewhat willing to adopt change: 70%
• Very willing to adopt change: 19%
• Unwilling to adopt change: 7%
• Unsure: 5%

The impact to overall patient care if either the new Congress or Federal Court is successful in repealing at least some component of healthcare reform:

• Somewhat negative: 30%
• Negative: 17%
• Positive: 17%
• Somewhat positive: 16%
• None: 10%
• Unsure: 9%

Mr. Fargnoli is available for further insight and analysis.

About Beacon Partners

As one of the largest independent healthcare management consulting firms, Beacon Partners is chosen by organizations in the healthcare community to provide advisory services to improve overall operational, clinical and financial performance with the adoption of information technology. With their strategic approach and depth of experience, Beacon Partners is uniquely qualified to help organizations navigate the challenges in healthcare and optimize their potential to deliver the highest possible level of patient care. Beacon Partnersí ARRA advisory services helps organizations develop a roadmap that will lead to ìmeaningful userî status and maximize available incentives.