A Journey through Meaningful Use at a Large Academic Medical Center: Lessons of Leadership, Administration, and Technical Implementation
Abstract
This is an article about a journey into meaningful use in a large academic medical center setting, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) 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.
Summarizing their thinking on the various of Best Practices:
Leadership: Establish a high level task force to promote awareness, selecting clinical quality measures and establishing accountability, using various means of communication to drive homt the message about the importance of this initiative.
Administration: Establishing a single window clearance and choosing the credentialing office for that express purpose.
Communication: Periodic dashboard reporting on progress and status as well as newsletters on meaningful use highlights and updates.
Technical Implementation: While the EHR system comes with its own canned, standard meaningful use reports, customizing it to suit the environment is critical to success.
Ongoing Support: Error correction, answering questions, attending to day to day security and other concerns takes a lot of effort and commitment.
Conclusion
The authors not only point out that achieving meaningful use is very possible but actually demonstrate the path they took to success and offer it to others that want to follow it. SUccess is predictable and leaves clues. SO does failure. The authors clearly point the way to success in accomplishing such a complex initiative.
