Michael Swiernik, MD, Director, Medical Informatics, UCLA, discusses “meaningful use” and the criteria for definition that are not yet defined. There are several key areas that need to be met when an EMR is done, for example physician orders, providing information to patients and families, and making sure health informatics systems operate with other systems in the local and regional area.

Reading:

Amatayakul M. Carrots and sticks for EHR implementation. Healthc Financ Manage. 2010 Feb;64(2):60-3.

Fortin J, Zywiak W. Beyond meaningful use: getting meaningful value from IT. Healthc Financ Manage. 2010 Feb;64(2):54-9.

Hagland M. Got people? With HITECH deadlines looming, CIOs need to ramp up staffing if they are to achieve meaningful use certification. Healthc Inform. 2009 Dec;26(12):36-7, 39-40, 42.