A Journey through Meaningful Use at a Large Academic Medical Center: Lessons of Leadership, Administration, and Technical Implementation
Contents
Abstract
This is an article about a journey into meaningful use in a large academic medical center setting for not only stage-1 compliance and the incentives consequent on that compliance but an effort to avoid penalties levied for non compliance. The authors not only discuss their journey but clearly identify and document the lessons learned so others following the same path could benefit from this effort and not re-invent the wheel.
Background
Meaningful Use according to the authors involves not only implementing an EMR system but more importantly meaningfully using the system for care coordination and patient engagement. As broad as the term "Meaningful Use" is, it is not without an objective definition and that has been provided by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology (HIT) and intelligently classified under five categories Quality, Safety, Efficiency, Reducing health disparities and ensuring privacy and security of protected health information (PHI).
Approach
As complicated as the meaningful use certification an compliance may seem, especially in large hospital settings, the authors think and demonstrate that by engaging Best Practices in the areas of Leadership, Administration, Communication, Technical Implementation and Ongoing Support, it can be accomplished with relative ease.
