Tuesday, March 23, 2010

What is “meaningful use” of the EMR?

From Medscape Medical News:

Here's the plain-English translation: The federal government won't give you a bonus simply for buying an EHR. You qualify for the money only if you use the system in ways that improve the quality of care while lowering costs.


Hmm. How can that be when it's never been proven that EMRs are capable of achieving those objectives in the first place?

Some feel the regulations which define meaningful use are too onerous:

"If the regulations stay the way they are today, many physicians won't even attempt to be a meaningful user," said Dr. Waldren.


Dr. Waldren is director of the Center for Health Information Technology for the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). CMS is expected to roll out the final version of the regs in a few months.

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