Originally published Monday, June 15, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
GE to offer electronic medical record financing
General Electric Co.'s health care division said Monday it will offer financing to doctors and hospitals that buy GE's electronic medical records equipment in an effort to cover an expected lag in the flow of federal stimulus money meant for the medical technology.
General Electric Co.'s health care division said Monday it will offer financing to doctors and hospitals that buy GE's electronic medical records equipment in an effort to cover an expected lag in the flow of federal stimulus money meant for the medical technology.
Through its GE Capital lending arm, GE Healthcare will make $100 million available to potential buyers of GE's equipment that computerizes paper patient medical records.
The $787 billion federal stimulus package includes about $19 billion to help doctors and hospitals shift their systems to electronic medical records. But much of the money isn't expected to be available until 2011, and investing in the computer equipment and software for a system can cost up to several million dollars for medical providers.
GE Healthcare hopes to entice potential customers by offering loans that carry zero interest and deferred payments for providers until they receieve stimulus money. The company will also offer a warranty to cover any needed changes to the electronic medical record systems, also known as EMRs, once the federal government releases standards for how those systems should work.
"This would essentially enable them (customers) to implement an EMR with no upfront capital cost," said Vishal Wanchoo, president of GE Healthcare IT.
Electronic medical records are supposed to make health care cheaper by cutting down on paperwork and more efficient by streamlining the way patient files are stored and shared. But only about 20 percent of U.S. health providers use the technology, in part because of the relatively high start up costs.
Copyright © The Seattle Times Company
More Business & Technology headlines...
E-mail article
Print view
Share
![]()
NEW - 11:32 PM
United's split jet order raises questions about 777's future
Obama addresses growing national debt
Touchstone eyes parcel in Bellevue
UPDATE - 01:01 AM
Global stock markets fall amid recovery fears
Dubai World likely to unload some major holdings

Lakewood police memorial procession
A memorial for the slain Lakewood police officers was preceded by a 10-mile procession that included over 2,000 vehicles.
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
Dining Suite-Antique-Table, 6 Chairs, Hutch, Buffe - $1900
Get name brand children clothings - $20
Girls Columbia Jacket brand NEW - pink sz 14/16 - $10
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
events for Wednesday, Dec. 9
- Birth and Beyond 'Baby Bucks'
- Alhambra $50 Gift Certificate
- Lil Lads 'n Lasses 50 Percent Off Sale
- Shenui.com Holiday Sale
editors' picks
- Maternity shopping
- Phinney Ridge & Greenwood shopping
- Independent bookstores
- Independent video stores
- Pearl Harbor submarine find rewrites history
- Nicole Brodeur | No reward for turning in cop killer
- Memories of four Lakewood officers bring tears, laughter
- Danny Westneat | $10 an hour with 2 kids? IRS pounces
- Clemmons' sister helped alleged driver 'lay low,' court papers say
- Boeing to duplicate Puget Sound work for 787
- Cold snap likely won't end before weekend
- Adrian Beltre declines salary arbitration offer
- Updates from the Lakewood Police memorial service
- Mariners Blog | Chone Figgins officially a Mariner
- Obama looks at highways, small biz in jobs plan
238 - Boeing to duplicate 787 work done only in Puget Sound at Charleston facility
195 - No reward for turning in cop killer
161 - Procession for slain Lakewood police officers poised to begin
155 - Surprise, surprise, Jack Zduriencik won't name Chone Figgins the official third baseman just yet
152 - Zduriencik may want to avoid another Bavasi-Bedard scenario
140 - Italy: No issues with US over Knox verdict
138 - Huskies land another big one
133 - Sark's season-ending news conference
128 - Chone Figgins ready to bat second and play second if he has to
87
- Pearl Harbor submarine find rewrites history
- Danny Westneat | $10 an hour with 2 kids? IRS pounces
- Boeing to duplicate Puget Sound work for 787
- Horizon Bank given 30 days to strengthen finances
- UW climate scientist warms to work on food supply
- Memories of four Lakewood officers bring tears, laughter
- U.S.: $3B to end royalty dispute with Indian tribes
- Ad campaign tries to elevate 'Made in China' tag's cachet
- Adrian Beltre declines salary arbitration offer
- Nicole Brodeur | No reward for turning in cop killer

