There has been much discussion about Meaningful Use and its tenets since its introduction to the medical community in 2010. To date, hospitals and health facilities all around the country are taking advantage of this multi-tiered program to provide better, more efficient care. Meaningful Use will be furled out in three stages, the first already in operation. With this program, however, there are incentives for each hospital should they meet certain criteria. Under federal laws, those meeting Meaningful Use criteria will have met 20 of 25 streamlined objectives. For hospitals and CAH’s, 19 of 24 objectives must be met. The objectives are broken into two groups, a core set and menu set.
The purpose behind Meaningful Use is to help streamline electronic data. Records keeping and IT has consistently been a battle within the field because of the enormity of records and data – and the maintenance of all that data. As Meaningful Use is in its first stage, there will be two subsequent stages unfurled, Stage 2 coming in 2013 and Stage 3 coming in 2015. Those not participating can do so at any time. Those hospitals and professionals reaching Meaningful Use criteria will receive incentive payments from the federal government – and in the process help with the quality of patient care.
Quality of care is absolutely vital and the Meaningful Use program is a way to help provide better care for individuals. What once was cluttered is now turning into a program that is worth investing in. As the program continues on in its infancy it is expected to grow exponentially across the country. Stages 2 and 3 have not yet been defined but parameters will be set in the near future.
For now, however, not every hospital or CMS (Center for Medical Service) operate within Meaningful Use criteria because of a lack of installation or maintenance concerns. Some institutions do not have an operable staff to operate within. What Meaningful Use sets out to do in its early stages is to eliminate the backlog with a user-friendly program that can be used to help streamline medical care. Crucial in the process, is good IT. With this, installation and maintenance concerns should wane. Once installed, eligible CMS facilities can start receiving federal incentives.
Adopting it is the most difficult part, however, adopted and implemented the quality of care will increase. The stringent objectives are designed in such a way that each patient that is seen can get the most out of their care for the time. While some institutions are implementing Meaningful Use not all of them are successful in reaching criteria. What CMS facilities are meeting criteria are showing tremendous results.
Funding from Meaningful Use will help any institution go a long way.
