"Meaningful Use" is a way of using certified EHR technology to:
- Improve quality, efficiency and reduce health disparities
- Engage patients and families in their healthcare
- Improve care coordination; and
- Improve population and public health.
All, while maintaining privacy and security.
Meaningful Use involves the:
- Use of a certified EHR in a meaningful manner (for example: clinical documentation and e-prescribing, etc.)
- Use of certified EHR technology for the electronic exchange of health information
- Use of certified EHR technology to submit clinical quality and other measures.
Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, eligible health care professionals and hospitals can qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments when they adopt certified EHR systems, and use them to achieve meaningful use objectives. The Act allocated $19 billion for hospitals and physicians who demonstrate the "meaningful use" of EHRs.
Source: Illinois Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center
