MEDITECH and Dell Perot Systems successfully brought together America's favorite pastime with the nation's most talked about health care legislation—as they hosted an event in Texas on the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) on health care. Over 30 customers attended this regional forum, which was held at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Speakers included Dr. Harry Greenspun, chief medical officer of Dell Perot Systems' healthcare group, and Barbara Hobbs, MEDITECH's manager of EHR, interoperability and standards initiatives. These presenters covered all the bases, with a global view of ARRA regulations alongside a more customer-centric view of the legislation. "The presentations went over exceptionally well," says Mark Waters, MEDITECH regional sales manager. "Dr. Greenspun was very engaging and provided valuable information about what ARRA means, while Barbara explained how MEDITECH customers are in a good position to apply for funding."

Greenspun and Hobbs acknowledged that some providers have been balking at the term "meaningful use" in the ARRA legislation, and are hesitant to move forward with I.T. implementation without a clear definition. On the other hand, many health care leaders have also felt the need to move forward quickly to maximize their access to the available funding. Both speakers assured attendees that even though the details are still being worked out, by focusing on I.T. to improve quality, MEDITECH customers are definitely on the right track.

Appropriately, the event's closer enabled customers to wind down and have a bit of fun—as the entire group stayed into the evening to see the Texas Rangers play ball with the Seattle Mariners. "We wanted the day to be both enjoyable and educational for our customers," says MEDITECH Regional Sales Director Richard Roy. "I think we hit a home run there."