NUR 621 Identify two to three indications that meaningful use has improved care coordination

Meaningful use has improved care coordination by creating an electronic version of sharing medical records amongst involved providers in a multitude of healthcare systems. According to Joneidy & Burke, meaningful use is the use of digital medical and health records that are used to improve quality, safety and efficiency of patient health information and a continuum for delivery of care. (2018). Electronic Health Records (EHRs) provide real time, current information that is quick to retrieve and available to all interdisciplinary teams in the healthcare delivery for the patient. Meaningful use was initially instituted to work with EHRs as an incentive-based program through Medicare. (Health IT, 2021). Hospitals have to demonstrate meaningful use each year in order to prevent Medicare payment adjustments and thereby loss of revenue for the hospital.

Meaningful use has improved care coordination between healthcare settings and can have a profound impact on patient care and the delivery of efficient high-quality care. There were five objectives according to Health IT, these being improving quality, safety efficiency and reduce health disparities (2021). The other priorities were to increase patient engagement, improve care coordination, expand population/public health and provide privacy and protection of personal health information. EHR and meaningful use has also realigned work flow, made charting concise and simplified as it is under one system for all providers to work through (CMS, 2021). This is especially important for those that are in a variety of health care clinics and interdisciplinary services. The patients EHR provides information that can potentially reduce medication errors, duplication of tests and procedures while providing patient safety in a high-quality healthcare delivery system (Penner, 2017).

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2021). Electronic health records. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/E-Health/EHealthRecords

Health IT. (2021). What is meaningful use. HealthIT.gov. https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-meaningful-use

Joneidy, S, Burke, M. (2018). Towards a Deeper Understanding of Meaningful Use in Electronic Health Records. Health Records. Health Info Library. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12233

Penner, S. J. (2017). Economics and financial management for nurses and nurse leaders (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing. ISBN-13: 9780826160010

Click here to ORDER an A++ paper from our Verified MASTERS and DOCTORATE WRITERS NUR 621 Identify two to three indications that meaningful use has improved care coordination:

Meaningful use is the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive program. Three primary goals of the meaningful use program are standardizing the electronic capture of information, improving quality at the point of care, and using clinical decision support and patient self-management tools to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of treatments (American Hospital Association, 2022). According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2010), meaningful use is using certified EHR technology to improve the following:

1. Quality, safety, efficiency, and reducing health disparities.

2. Engage patients and families in their health care.

3. Care coordination.

4. Population and public health.

5. Maintaining privacy and security.

The meaningful use is one of several programs that offer incentives to healthcare providers and organizations that engage in activities to improve patient care coordination (Adler-Milstein & Cohen, 2016). EHR has replaced paper paper-based health records, and more and more providers have adopted the use of the same (Penner, 2017). Besides streamlining a clinician’s workflow, EHR can support care-related activities including evidence-based decision support, quality management, and outcomes reporting (CMS, 2021). The sharing and exchange of data electronically help to facilitate care coordination. Patients sometimes move through different care delivery systems, and care coordination is critical to allow for timely, efficient, and safe care. Benefits of care coordination include safety regarding less medical errors; efficiency and time saving regarding accessing patient data between providers, different healthcare members, and organizations; and more effective means of communication between patients and providers.

References

Adler-Milstein, J. & Cohen, G. R. (2016). Meaningful use care coordination criteria: Perceived barriers and benefits among primary care providers. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 23(1). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4954634

American Hospital Association. (2022). Goals of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records Programs. https://www.aha.org/websites/2009-12-11-goals-medicare-and-medicaid-electronic-health-records-programs

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2021). Electronic health records. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/E-Health/EHealthRecords

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2010). What is meaningful use? https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/downloads/mu_stage1_reqoverview.pdf

Penner, S. J. (2017). Economics and Financial Management for Nurses and Nurse Leaders (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-0-8261-6001-0

Thank you for your post, I enjoyed how you set apart all the steps of how an EHR can improve patient care. Sometimes EHR has negative connotations to caregivers who are frustrated with the technology. This happens many times in my facility, I hear “I miss paper and I miss the old ways” many feel the EHR takes away time from patient care. While if a clinician is not fluent in an EHR or the EHR has a complicated workflow this can be true. The EHR did have a slow start when first implemented and thus the meaningful use incentive program came into place due to the fact CMS envisioned the positivity of how the ERH would improve patient care. The Meaningful use program was set into place to promote the careful and meaningful use of the EHR to use the technology for improving quality, safety and efficiency as you stated. Meaningful use of the EHR is also to decrease social disparities, improve access to patient data in real time, this in itself helps create consistent can safely care (Joneidy & Burke, 2018). Nurse and providers are creatures of habit and will resist change, the real challenge is improving the EHR to illicit increased patient facing care as well as improving quality as you indicated.

Great post

Joneidy, S., & Burke, M. (2018). Towards a deeper understanding of meaningful use in electronic health records. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 36(2), 134–152. https://doi.org/10.1111/hir.12233

Health care technologies serve different roles in health practice, and it is crucial to ensure that they benefit health care organizations maximally. Meaningful use is based on the same premise as the use of electronic health records (EHRs) continues dominating health care delivery. While leveraging EHR technology, meaningful use seeks to improve care coordination and engage patients and families, among other objectives.

Various indications testify that meaningful use has improved care coordination. Under stage 1 of meaningful use (data capture and sharing) and subsequent stage (advanced clinical processes), health care providers are required to exchange patient data electronically (Davis, 2019). Such sharing is pivotal in improving patient care coordination since health care providers collaborate to address a common health care issue using shared data. Besides, data sharing ensures that patients are involved in the health process as their records move across settings. Furthermore, health care providers reconcile data to facilitate care transitions (Selker, 2021). The entire process becomes patient-centered besides promoting care coordination and ensuring that clinical decisions are accurate.

A close reflection on the priorities when meaningful use was adopted indicates that the primary goal was to ensure that health care delivery was more efficient and technology-based. Meaningful use sought to accelerate EHR adoption in health care delivery (HealthIT.gov, 2019). It accelerated the adoption by penalizing physicians who failed to participate in meaningful use. Objectives included improving care coordination, patient engagement, and overall care quality. The objectives have not changed, albeit security and privacy of patient data becoming key considerations over time.

Meaningful use commenced the transition to more coordinated care. Through data sharing and reconciliation across settings, patient care activities between participants are highly organized. Care providers can also collaborate and engage patients in the process. For better outcomes, health care providers should examine how EHRs can achieve more such as making them more interoperable and secure.

References

Davis, N. (2019). Foundations of health information management-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

HealthIT.gov. (2019). Meaningful use. https://www.healthit.gov/topic/meaningful-use-and-macra/meaningful-use

Selker, H. P. (2021). The Affordable Care Act as a national experiment: Health policy innovations and lessons. Springer.

The electronic health record (EHR) has improved care coordination by allowing the health care industry to share and obtain data patient information. It has also given nurses and clinicians the opportunity to assess and document patients care at bedside. Patients have access to their health records which allows the patient to have more autonomy over their care. Electronic medical records have been able to improve quality of care, patient outcomes, and safety by reducing medication errors, duplication of unnecessary records, and has improved communication among providers and patients. EHR has assisted the healthcare industry in the targeting of disease attainment, prevention, and screening process which has improved quality measures.

In the beginning of COVID-19 it was very difficult to figure out how to keep patients and clinicians safe. Virtual or Telehealth visits became very popular during the pandemic surge. Having the ability to care for patients virtually has brought its pros and cons. Healthcare organizations had to deal with creating new COVID Policy and Procedures when conducting Telehealth visits. Healthcare workers need to keep in mind that a virtual consultation still requires ensuring that HIPPA regulations are still followed. The pandemic opened a new door in the use of technology. The great thing about technology and nursing is that keeps evolving because of the demands of a diverse population, lifespan increase, technology, and federal regulations that we must follow as well.

References

Penner, S.J. (2017). Economics and financial management for nurses and nurse leaders (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company, LLC.

Thank you for your responding to my post. COVID-19 brought panic, fear, uncertainty, and stress throughout the world and the healthcare industry. Healthcare had to drastically change and meet the demands of patients. Virtual care and telehealth are proof of what transpired from disruptive change. Telehealth provided health care clinicians the capability to assist and provide quality healthcare to many patients during the Pandemic. Many patients were afraid or apprehensive to seek out healthcare during the pandemic due to the possibility of contracting the virus. Many patients and their families took advantage of technology by reaching their healthcare professionals through the My Chart portal. They were able to schedule appointments with their healthcare providers and see their providers through their phones, iPads, laptops, or computers and have one on one consultations. Patients were able to refill their medications and have them directly deliver them to their homes instead of going to the pharmacy. 2020 was the year where virtual care and telehealth evolved creating new ways for patients to obtain care and healthcare workers keep contact and provide care to their patients. In hospice care many of our patients and their families received virtual support from their hospice md, nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, chaplain, volunteers, and social worker. At first it was a strange concept to provide care virtually to someone on hospice care, but it was necessary to be able to provide the necessary care, provide support, and continue with the plan of care. Nurses were able to educate families and caregivers on how to provide care by providing instruction and guiding them virtually. Although, it was hard not to be able to give the in-person care to the patients at least there was a feeling of satisfaction one felt knowing that you were able to guide them virtually.

According to the Medical News Today there are many benefits to virtual care and telehealth technologies such as lowering the costs. Those that seek telehealth care are most likely going to spend less time in the hospital and lowering hospital admissions. Disabled patients and elderly patients who might be geographically isolated will be better able to access telehealth with less complications. Telemedicine has proven to help patients with preventative care and improve outcomes. Patients find it more convenient and comfortable to access telemedicine in the privacy of their own home. The convenience of not needing to take time away from work reduces the stress of finding a baby-sitter or caregiver to care for their loved ones. Telehealth also reduces the spread of infections from coming to the hospital or doctor’s office and being exposed to sick patients. Healthcare professionals’ benefit from virtual care and telehealth technologies by reducing overhead expenses, additional revenue streams by caring for more patients virtually, less exposure to illness and infections, and patient satisfaction.

According to Harvard Health Medical School there are disadvantages in using virtual telehealth care which include, that not all visits can be done virtually but require the patient to come in and be access in person. Patients still need to come to the lab to have blood drawn and imaging tests performed. There is still a security risk of personal health data being transmitted. Although many insurance companies have covered virtual telehealth visits during COVID-19 some services might not be covered, and the patient still has the responsibility to pay the out-of-pocket expenses.

References

Harvard Health Medical School. (n.d.). Telehealth: the advantages and disadvantages. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/telehealth-the-advantages-and-disadvantages

Medicine News Today. (2020). Telemedicine benefits: for patients and professionals. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/telemedicine-benefits

One indication that meaningful use improved care coordination is the utilization of electronic health records. EHR data is used to measure and improve the quality of care while reducing or preventing staff dissatisfaction and burnout. “America’s healthcare landscape has steadily shifted toward an emphasis on quality improvement using quality measurement, electronic health records (EHRs), financial incentives, and clinical interventions.” ( Hersey et al. 2019) Another indication that meaningful use has improved care coordination is providers agree that EHRs help deliver better and more effective care. “Meaningful Use incentives found higher quality among physicians that received the incentive-supporting the idea that EHRs are associated with better quality outcomes.” (Hersey et al, 2019) Another indication that meaningful use has improved care coordination is EHRs are cost saving by saving in paper and storage costs and time savings in locating needed clinical information or misplaced records.

Some of the priorities when meaningful use was developed include increasing quality of care and quality measurement and improvement. Meaningful Use began as a voluntary program for expanding implementation and use of EHRs and attracted high-performing, high-resource practices as early adopters. “Priorities of meaningful use included to quality improvement, safety, efficiency, reduction in health disparities, maintenance of privacy & security, improvement of coordination of care, and increased engagement with patients and family.” (Health Information Technology, 2019)

Hersey, C. L., M.P.H., Tant, E., M.Sc, Berzin, O. K. G., M.P.H., Trisolini, M. G., PhD., & West, S. L., PhD. (2019). Moving from Quality Measurement to Quality Improvement: Applying Meaningful Use Lessons to the Quality Payment Program. Perspectives in Health Information Management, , 1-12. https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/moving-quality-measurement-improvement-applying/docview/2332353145/se-2

Meaningful Use. (2019). Health Technology. http://www.healthit.gov

NUR 621 Identify two to three indications that meaningful use has improved care coordination