{"id":2230,"date":"2009-05-10T00:20:17","date_gmt":"2009-05-10T05:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pmedicine.org\/epatients\/?p=2230"},"modified":"2009-05-12T05:56:36","modified_gmt":"2009-05-12T10:56:36","slug":"meaningful-use-a-pivotal-definition-for-new-wave-medical-records-systems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/participatorymedicine.org\/epatients\/2009\/05\/meaningful-use-a-pivotal-definition-for-new-wave-medical-records-systems.html","title":{"rendered":"“Meaningful Use”: a pivotal definition for new-wave medical records systems"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve struggled with what to say about this subject for two weeks, because I want to “get it right” but it’s vast. So I’m giving up any hope of being comprehensive, and I’m just going to say what little I know, and what I think, and let any discussion happen from there.
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\nThe issue<\/strong><\/p>\n

We (the US, and probably the world) are at a pivotal moment in healthcare, a turning point. The direction we choose now can have a lasting effect on how well healthcare works in the coming years \u2013 even for the next decade, I suspect. So as we consider this, I suggest that we think not in 2010 terms, but 2020 terms.<\/p>\n

The issue at hand is the definition of “meaningful use.” You’ve probably heard of the $19B in the US \u201cARRA\u201d economic stimulus package that’s set aside to encourage adoption of electronic medical records systems. (A Google search for \u201cHIT stimulus ARRA billion\u201d produces 25,700 hits.) Medical practices that have EMRs and put them to “meaningful use” will get higher reimbursement from the government. <\/p>\n

When the stimulus package was passed by Congress, the term “meaningful use” was intentionally left to be clarified later. See David Kibbe’s comment here<\/a> for three items that were specified.<\/i> And here we are: the work is now underway to define and clarify that term. Many meetings are happening in Washington to get this done.<\/p>\n

I believe, and many basically agree, that meaningful use should be defined to include full patient access to their data<\/strong> in EMR systems. Here’s why.<\/p>\n

First, let’s look at the world for which we’re designing: 2020.
\n <\/p>\n\n2020: The world for which we’re planning
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

The systems we design today will be in use a long time from now, so I suggest we look at the world as it will be in 2020, and how we’ll be using these systems then. What does that world look like?<\/p>\n