Meaningful use, and physicians’ attempts to satisfy the requirements to meet it, was a major topic of discussion at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference, held in March in Atlanta. Physicians, consultants and others described their implementation success stories, most of which involved slow and deliberate processes toward adoption, and warned of failures if that slow and deliberate process is not followed.
The HIMSS conference was held just days before the deadline for organizations to submit comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on the interim final rules that define meaningful use. Several organizations, including HIMSS and the American Medical Association, submitted letters asking CMS to change the rules, claiming that more flexibility and an incremental approach to adoption — which would help doctors take the baby steps experts recommend — will help ensure long-term success.
Read more here.
