Meaningful Use – Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

Last month, HIMSS Analytics released data on the responses to specific questions that were added to our annual comprehensive hospital survey on IT adoption.  As of mid- November, 687 hospital completed those specific questions that gave us the first glimpse of a statistically valid survey of US hospitals and their readiness to meet the Stage 1 Meaningful Use Core and Menu  set criteria.

The data we see is encouraging.  Nearly one-quarter (22 percent) of hospitals represented in our sample presently have the capability to achieve 10 or more of the required core measures in the meaningful use Stage 1 requirements and 40 percent of the market indicated they have the capability to meet five or more of the menu items for meaningful use. 

This suggests some hospitals are well-positioned to achieve meaningful use incentive requirements in 2011. 

Other hospitals are moving along the path to meeting meaningful use; one-third of survey respondents reported that they presently have the capability to achieve between five and nine of the core measures for meaningful use.

Key areas that hospitals are planning to address in the future include:

• implementation of one clinical decision support rule with the ability to track compliance for a high priority hospital condition;
• maintaining an active medication list;
• tracking smoking status for patients who are at least 13, implementing drug/drug or drug/allergy interaction checks; and
• maintaining an active medication allergy list. 

At least one quarter of respondents in the sample reported plans to address these core measures in the future.

This data represents a first glimpse into the readiness of the market to address meaningful use.  Beginning in January, HIMSS will release quarterly updates of information that will include updated data and analysis on meaningful use compliance for healthcare organizations.  Our expectation is that the number of hospitals that are positioned to grab the golden ring will only increase in the future. 

 We see the glass as half full.

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