Electronic health record meaningful use rates and patient care outcomes

¶ … Healthcare Delivery Systems and Informatics

Meaningful Use (MU)

Under the HITECH Act (2009) financial incentives were offered to physician practices and hospitals who adopted certified electronic health record (EHR) systems and used this technology to improve quality, safety, and efficiency in patient care. This is referred to as "meaningful use". To receive incentives, providers must provide evidence they are meaningfully using their EHR's by meeting a number of identified objectives. Use these links to explore meaningful use. Go to the HealthIT dashboard site and explore hospitals that have demonstrated Meaningful Use through the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

Link 1: Health IT Dashboard (2015) at http://dashboard.healthit.gov/dashboards/hospitals-medicare-meaningful-use.php

Link 2: CMS.gov (2014). Eligible Hospital and CAH Meaningful Use Table of Contents Core and Menu Set

Objectives at https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/EH_CAH_MU_TableOfContents.pdf

OR See Table 1: Stage 1 Meaningful Use Objectives under Module 4 in Blackboard

1. List the two (2) states that have the lowest demonstrated MU rate. Briefly explain (with appropriate examples) two (2) ways how lower MU rate might directly impact the patients living in these states as compared with those states with higher MU rates.

ANSWER- Please complete

Two states with lowest MU Rate (2.5 points each for a total of 5 points)

1. Delaware (83% . . . .per Link 1 mentioned above)

2. Hawaii (76% . . . per Link 1 mentioned above)

Briefly explain (with appropriate examples) two (2) ways how lower MU rate might directly impact the patients living in these states as compared with those states with higher MU rates. (5 points each for a total of 10 points)

1. As stated in module 4, the idea is to make use of and leverage EHR. On a basic level, this means that electronic healthcare records must be in place. This is part one of the answer. This is defined in the Module 4-Word document

2. In addition to using EHR, it must be used in a way that leverages the technology in the right and possible way. For this to be achieved, there have to be outcomes like improvement in quality, safety and efficiency, the proper engagement with patietns and families, the improving of care coordination, the improving of population and public health and the ensuring of adequate privacy and security protections. All of this is per the Module 4 material as well.

2. Different states have attained different levels of MU. Briefly explain (with appropriate examples) how these variable rates might impact the providers of these states. Hint: pick two (2) states with contrasting MU rates.

ANSWER- Please complete

Briefly explain (with appropriate examples) how these variable rates might impact the providers of these states. Hint: pick two (2) states with contrasting MU rates. (7.5 points each for a total of 15 points)

1. A state with very high MU rates would serve a patient better since they have the proper technology and are using it. An example would be Utah or Oregon (100%). As previously cited from Module 4, there would be better quality, safety, efficiency, security, care coordination and public health levels.

2. A state that has a lower score either does not have the proper technology in place or, at the very least, they are not properly using it. Examples of these states would be Hawaii (76%) and Idaho (85%). These states are performing at some level of efficiency and good patient outcomes but they are not doing it nearly as well as states like Utah and Oregon, as mentioned above.

3. Name three (3) required objectives for meaningful use stage 1 that hospitals must implement. Briefly discuss how each of these objectives will improve care quality and/or reduce errors.

Answer- Please complete

Name three (3) required objectives for meaningful use stage 1 that hospitals must implement. Briefly discuss how each of these objectives will improve care quality and/or reduce errors. (5 points each for a total of 15 points)

1. Per the table on the fifth page on module 4, one would be maintain problem list

2. Another one would be maintain allergy list

3. A third would be record demographic information. In general, the hospitals have to meet all eleven of the primary objectives and at least five of the optional objectives. There are ten total optional objectives.

Health IT Interoperability and Standards

The Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes that the actual exchange of health information needs to be both interoperable and electronic across numerous information systems for us to realize a patient-centered, value-driven health care system.

Link 1: HealthIT.gov (2015). Policymaking, Regulation, & Strategy: Accelerating Health Information Exchange at http://healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/accelerating-health-information-exchange-hie

Link 2: HealthIT.gov (2014). Health Information Exchange: Standards & Interoperability at http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/standards-interoperability

4. How were the terms "interoperability and electronic health information exchange" explained under the policy making, regulations and strategies section (see Link 1)?

Answer- Please complete

Pick any three (3) of these principles and explain, with examples, whether or not they are aligned with the concept of meaningful use (you can use the objectives/measures of any of the 3 stages). (5 points each for a total of 15 points)

1. Security -- This would fit with MU since keeping information secure but accessible is entirely consistent with MU.

2. Meaning is absolutely a part of MU because it standardizes what each term means (and what it does not mean)

3. Services: This is MU because it is about open and accessible information and this a basic and minimum standard of MU

Source: https://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/standards-interoperability

Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Standards

The need for data and information access from a variety of sources in order to coordinate care is a national priority. There are benefits and challenges associated with electronic health record integration and interoperability related to standardization and the building of HIE. Review content in Module 8 including exploring the links provided and answer the following questions.

http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/onc-tackles-interoperability-sticking-points

6. One of the main reasons to have standardized nursing languages is to have comparable healthcare data. Nightingale highlighted the benefits of comparable data. Three (3) of the benefits are:

Answer- Please complete

Three (3) of the benefits are: (5 points each for a total of 15 points)

1. Ability to identify unnecessary deaths. These would be deaths that happened but could have been prevented through correct diagnosis, follow-up and procedure.

2.Determine efficacy of operations and treatements. This would include using the standard treatments and then assessing afterward whether they were as effective as they could or should be.

3.Ascertain the influence of the hospital upon outcomes. This refers to whether the hospital is helping or harming when it comes to patient outcomes and how they come to pass.

These are all on the second page of the Module 8 document . . . second paragraph from the bottom

7. Many hospitals ready and willing to exchange healthcare data with other providers find themselves obstructed because the healthcare organization at the other end is unable to receive it. State and explain three (3) primary reasons responsible for this phenomenon?

Answer- Please complete

State and explain three (3) primary reasons responsible for this phenomenon? (5 points each for a total of 15 points)

1. Funding (who will pay for it?)

2. Consumer/Provider Resistance (why is it needed?)

3. Operational Process (hot it will work?)

All of these are at the very bottom of the module 8 document . . . just above the references.