Two Of Three Hospitals MU Ready
By Katie Wike, contributing writer
A HIMSS Analytics report says about 68 percent of hospitals now have the tools to meet Stage 2 Meaningful Use requirements, but some are still calling for an extension of the timeline
According to a new HIMSS Analytics report, a majority of hospitals are catching up to Meaningful Use (MU) requirements. Sixty-eight percent now own technology that has been certified to the 2014 Edition certification criteria, 60 percent have met at least nine of the core metrics set by Stage Two, and 70 percent are actively moving toward meeting Stage 2 requirements.
Despite this recent surge towards meeting the deadline, John P. Hoyt, FACHE, FHIMSS, Executive Vice President, HIMSS Analytics said, “HIMSS applauds the continuous progress of eligible hospitals as they move toward compliance with Stage 2 Meaningful Use now and in 2014. However, it is also important to recognize the benefit of an extra six months, should CMS agree to extend the deadline, for hospitals that need extra time to review and meet the technological components of this Stage of meaningful use compliance."
Fierce EMR reports HIMSS isn’t the only group lobbying for an extension. The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) believes “a one-year extension of Stage 2 prior to Stage 3 would maximize program success by letting providers ‘optimize their EHR technology.’"
CHIME CEO Russell Branzell and board chair George Hickman said, in a letter to senators, "An extension is vital for providers, vendors, and policymakers to ensure the outcomes sought in Stage 3 are realized. Your report highlights a number of fair and responsible criticisms of the program and it echoes many of the concerns CHIME has voiced over the last three years. But given the nation's increased adoption of EHRs, the increased investments in interoperable solutions and the early-stage transformations encountered everyday by our members, we remain convinced that the trajectory set by Meaningful Use is the correct one."
In addition, Fierce EMR reports The American College of Physicians said “the ‘very aggressive’ timeline and ‘overly ambitious’ objectives of Meaningful Use Stage 2 threaten to limit the success of the overall program.”
It quotes ACP Medical Informatics Committee Chair Peter Basch as writing in a letter sent to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, and National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari, "As Meaningful Use has become more prescriptive of certain workflows, it has become less relevant to internal medicine subspecialists. We are concerned that subspecialists may not adopt and fully realize the potential of certified [electronic health record] products if the requirements of the program do not allow for the unique workflows required by some subspecialists."