It’s been six years since the introduction of the meaningful use program, which was part of the federal stimulus package put forth during the recession in 2009. And a whole lot has changed since then.
This video from the Brookings Institute includes the discussion I had on health IT and meaningful use.
Starting back when I was the first deputy national coordinator in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the focus has been improving healthcare by expanding use of electronic health records (EHR) and driving towards an interoperable infrastructure.
Today, physicians have moved from simply purchasing and using their EHRs—which most physicians now have—to using them to meet a plethora of requirements outlined by the federal government under the meaningful use program.
With the way the program (and other regulatory programs) has rolled out, meaningful use has unquestionably become a burden for many physicians, a “check off the box” exercise. Huge investments were made, millions of Americans now have digital records, but we’re still seeing road bumps.
I had the opportunity to talk about meaningful use last week at the Brookings Institute with some health IT colleagues, including Karen DeSalvo, the current national coordinator for the ONC. Our conversation focused around how we move forward from where we are now, without losing sight of that original goal: Improving patient care using health IT.
As AMA president, it’s my job to listen to what physicians are saying about meaningful use and make those opinions heard. I used my time at Brookings to do just that. The AMA has asked the ONC and CMS to review our mutual goals before rolling out Stage 3 of meaningful use and regroup to make sure the program is still on the path we intended six years ago.
We all want to improve care using technology. But some of the mechanics in how that got done have become cumbersome for physicians. Perhaps it’s an opportune time to review – are we getting to our ultimate goal? How do we use tech to improve patient care?
At Brookings, I highlighted the AMA’s framework for EHR usability, developed with an external advisory committee of practicing physicians and health IT experts, researchers and executives. We’re working with physicians, EHR vendors, policymakers, health care systems and researchers to drive EHR improvements that can advance the delivery of high-quality, affordable care.
We also have engaged in aggressive advocacy to push for the adoption of solutions to the one-size-fits-all program, as outlined in a blueprint submitted to CMS in October.
Most recently the AMA and more than 30 physician groups recommended three changes to improve the EHR certification process to make it easier for physicians to use EHRs and care for patients in a letter to the ONC.
We had some good ideas six years ago, and I think with collaboration and communication, we can make sure those good ideas get realized. The AMA will continue to work with the necessary groups to make health IT easier and more accessible for physicians and a useful tool to improve the health and care of our patients.
