Understanding Meaningful Use, Essay Example

CMS stands for “Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services” (CMS, n.d.). This organization is a federally established agency under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, the purpose of this organization is to work closely with state governments in order to ensure that Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally regulated health care programs are being implemented appropriately. The organization is also responsible for regulating the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

According to CMS, a quality measure is defined as “tools that help us measure or quantify healthcare processes, outcomes, patient perceptions, and organizational structure and/or systems that are associated with the ability to provide high-quality health care and/or that relate to one or more quality goals for health care” (CMS, “Quality Measures”, n.d.). The goal of quality measures is to help medical professionals improve patient care. Many health care organizations use electronic health record systems to ensure that they are able to provide quality care. Certified electronic health record systems are those that meet electronic software requirements under HIPAA and HITECH regulations (Health IT, n.d.). These systems store patient data and allow authorized individuals to access this information quickly. Some systems allow for prescription ordering and quality improvement management functions. The certified electronic health record system utilized in my health care setting is called Cerner.

According to HealthIT.gov, Medicare eligible professionals (EPs), include doctors of medicine or osteopathy, doctors of dental surgery or dental medicine, doctors of podiatric medicine, doctors of optometry, and chiropractors. Likewise, Medicare eligible hospitals (EHs), include “subsection (d) hospitals” that are paid under the hospital inpatient perspective payment system, critical Access Hospitals, and Medicare Advantage (MA) Hospitals (Health IT “EHR Incentive Programs”, n.d.).

Broadly, meaningful use is defined as the proper use of technology to allow for quality improvement in the health care settings. As such, meaningful use requires the proper use of electronic health record systems in addition to other available medical technologies. Core and menu objectives allow medical professionals to have a greater understanding of how to apply meaningful use in the clinical setting. Some menu objectives include the implementation of drug interaction checks, maintenance of an active medication list, and recording and charting changes in vital signs. Menu objectives include incorporating clinical lab test results into the system, sending patient reminders, and providing patient specific education resources (EHR Incentive Program, 2014). Electronic health record systems also allow health care professionals to track clinical quality measures.

According to CMS, “Clinical quality measures, or CQMs, are tools that help measure and track the quality of health care services provided by eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) within our health care system” (CMS, n.d.). These quality measures include aspects of patient care including patient safety, population health, and care coordination, among others. Electronic clinical quality measures are those quality measures determined through the use of electronic health record systems. They therefore allow for meaningful use of this equipment because these measures allow for the improvement of patient care.

Overall, electronic health record systems are a useful tool that allow health care professionals enhance the care that is delivered within their organization. Professionals believe that the use of these systems will effectively reduce medication errors, allow qualified professionals to access patient data more quickly, and to remind patients of appointments and other information that is needed to continue to support their health.

References

CMS. (n.d.). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/

CMS. (n.d.). Quality Measures. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/QualityMeasures/index.html?redirect=/QualityMeasures/

EHR Incentive Program. (2014). Eligible Professional Meaningful Use Table of Contents Core and Menu Set Objectives. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/downloads/EP-MU-TOC.pdf

Health IT. (n.d.). Electronic Health Record (EHR) Certification Program. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/fact-sheets/ehr-certification-program.pdf

Health IT. (n.d.). EHR Incentive Programs. Retrieved from https://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/ehr-incentive-programs