Meaningful Use refers to the set of standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that healthcare providers must meet in their use of electronic health records (EHR) and related technology. It aims to ensure that healthcare providers use EHRs in ways that improve patient care, enhance care coordination, and engage patients while maintaining privacy and security.
An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. It contains a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory test results.
Health Information Exchange refers to the electronic sharing of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards. It allows healthcare providers to access and share patients’ medical information securely, promoting interoperability and care coordination.
Interoperability refers to the ability of different health information technology systems to exchange and use data seamlessly. It enables healthcare providers to access and share patient information across disparate systems, improving care coordination and patient outcomes.
Clinical Decision Support encompasses tools and systems that provide healthcare professionals with actionable information and knowledge to enhance decision-making in patient care. It includes alerts, reminders, guidelines, protocols, and evidence-based recommendations integrated into EHRs to improve clinical outcomes.
Patient Engagement involves empowering patients to actively participate in their healthcare journey. It includes providing patients with access to their health information, educational resources, communication tools, and opportunities for shared decision-making to promote informed choices and improve health outcomes.
Quality Reporting involves the collection and submission of data on healthcare quality measures to regulatory agencies and quality improvement organizations. It aims to assess and improve the quality of care provided by healthcare organizations, supporting accountability and transparency.
Health Information Technology encompasses the use of information technology to manage and exchange health information electronically. It includes EHRs, health information exchange systems, telehealth platforms, mobile health applications, and other technologies aimed at improving healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Clinical Documentation Improvement focuses on enhancing the accuracy and completeness of clinical documentation in EHRs. It involves capturing detailed and specific information about patients’ diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes to support better care delivery, coding accuracy, and reimbursement.
A Security Risk Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of potential risks and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). It helps healthcare organizations identify and mitigate security threats, comply with regulatory requirements, and safeguard patient data.