Mod 8: Meaningful Use

Barriers to EHR's

1) Costs 2) lengthy timelines 3) Changes in work habits

Focuses on the 3 stages to Meaningful use

1) Data capture and sharing with other HCPs 2) Advanced clinical processes through e-prescribing and incorporating important lab results 3) Improved outcomes via self management tools, improving quality, safety and efficiency

Roberta, a nurse in the radiology unit, receives a patient with COPD who needs to have routine tests taken. The patient's doctor sends her an email with important patient information. Roberta also reviews the patient's EHR to understand the patient's health needs and anticipate any problems or concerns. In this case, how does the meaningful use of an EHR facilitate healthcare quality improvement?

EHRs allow for improved care coordination between healthcare providers.

The HITECH Act aims to have an EHR developed for each person in the United States. This EHR will be readily available to every healthcare provider who treats the patient. A. True B. False

True Correct. By enacting the HITECH Act, lawmakers sought to develop an HIT infrastructure that would enable each person in the United States to have an HER in order to support the use and exchange of information.

Characteristics of an EHR (7)

1) Pt, centered care (learn about their health Hx. before meeting them) 2) Care Coordination (Electronic Communication) 3) Safety ( Provide point-of-care decision support and automation to prevent medical errors) 4) Efficiency (Streamlined workflow and reduced redundancies) 5) Research (Identify pt. who qualify for research studies) 6) EBP ( Clinical Decision Making) 7) Pt support and education (Pt. education and self monitoring tools.)

EHR systems ________ nurses in making beneficial healthcare decisions 1) Support 2) Not Support

1) Support

Meaningful Use is using electronic health records (EHRs) in a meaningful manner, which includes, but is not limited to: (4)

1)electronically capturing health information in a coded format 2)using that information to track key clinical conditions, 3)communicating that information to help coordinate care 4)initiating the reporting of clinical quality measures and public health information

Frank is a hospice nurse and notices a recent increase in patient falls. He reviews EHRs for patients who have reported falls to determine potential causes of those falls so that he can develop a plan to reduce this problem. In this case, how does an EHR facilitate healthcare quality improvement? A)EHRs record information that can be used to reduce health disparities. B)EHRs provide new methods for providers to engage patients and family. C)EHRs alert providers when a patient needs to have a routine screening. D)EHRs provide clinical guidelines to assist with determining diagnoses

A)EHRs record information that can be used to reduce health disparities

EHR system ______ nurses to plan services better A)Allow B)Don't allow

Allow

Which agency established meaningful use objectives and standards for certifying that systems are compliant, functional, and secure? A. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) B. World Health Organization (WHO) C. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) D. Institute of Medicine (IOM)

C. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services CMS: Correct. CMS, a federal agency within HHS, established meaningful use objectives and standards for certifying EHR systems.

Jessica is a nurse in the ER treating a patient with an ear infection. Before administering medication, Jessica reviews the patient's EHR and sees a recorded penicillin allergy. In this case, how does the meaningful use of an EHR facilitate healthcare quality improvement? A)EHRs provide new methods for providers to engage patients and family. B)EHRs reduce healthcare treatment costs. C)EHRs reduce turnaround time for lab results. D)EHRs improve safety. .

D) EHRs improve safety

An effective EHR system: A. Assists nurses in planning for health services B. Reduces inefficiencies caused by barriers to health information exchange C. Prevents medical errors D. All of the above

D. All the above Correct. All of the above explain how an effective EHR system can support quality improvement.

EHR systems are intended to _______ medical errors Decrease or Increase

Decrease

Meaningful use of EHRs supports quality improvement by streamlining workflow and preventing medical errors. A. True B. False

True Correct. An EHR system's ability to improve efficiency and safety in healthcare settings enables nurses to improve the delivery of care.

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act)

addresses the development, adoption, and implementation of health information technology, including electronic health record (EHR)

nationwide health information technology (HIT)

infrastructure that would enable each person in the United States to have an EHR that is readily available to every healthcare provider who treats the patient, no matter where the patient may be located at the time treatment is rendered

The impact of meaningful use of EHRs on nursing practice is limited by an EHR's inability to provide patient education. A. True B. False Correct. As part of improving outcomes, EHRs provide patient education through self-monitoring tools and interactive computer-based patient education, thereby increasing access to patient education and supporting quality improvement.

B. False Correct. As part of improving outcomes, EHRs provide patient education through self-monitoring tools and interactive computer-based patient education, thereby increasing access to patient education and supporting quality improvement.

Which of the following statements bests describes "meaningful use"? A. Meaningful use means that 80% of patients are able to access and use their EHRs to make informed decisions about their health care options. B. Meaningful use refers to the responsible use of government funds to adopt technology required for an EHR system. C. Meaningful use means meeting measurable objectives for using an EHR system set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in order to qualify for incentive programs. D. Meaningful use means purchasing and installing an EHR system

C. Meaningful use means meeting measurable objectives for using an EHR system set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in order to qualify for incentive programs. Correct. Meaningful use is measured by specific objectives for using an EHR system that will evolve over three stages with the goal of improving health care, engaging patients, improving coordination, increasing efficiency, and maintaining the privacy of patient health information.

Health care providers that implement qualified EHRs can qualify for: A. incentive payments from the Institute of Medicine. B. Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements of the cost of purchasing an EHR system. C. grants from the World Health Organization to defray costs. D. increased reimbursement rates from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

D. increased reimbursement rates from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. Correct. CMS offers increased reimbursement rates to healthcare organizations that implement approved EHR systems and progress through the stages of meaningful use.

Each stage of meaningful use builds upon the objectives of the previous stage to create an expanding plan for using EHR systems. A. True B. False

True Correct. Each stage of meaningful use reflects more complex changes, from the simple recording of patient data to health information exchange to patient access to self-management tools.

Meaningful use of EHRs allows healthcare providers to improve quality of care through coordination of data exchanges. A. True B. False

True Correct. Lawmakers realized that adopting an EHR will allow a critical mass of providers to increase quality of care.

Nurses are responsible for safeguarding patient information. A. True B. False

True Correct. Safeguarding patient information is essential to meaningful use of EHRs and enables nurses to fulfill their practice priorities and, ultimately, support quality improvement

Through meaningful use of EHR technology, providers can (4)

•Improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities •Engage patients and family •Improve care coordination, and population and public health •Maintain privacy and security of patient health information