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Evaluation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use Objectives: Analysis in North Carolina and Tennessee

Project Final Report (PDF, 1.37 MB) Disclaimer

Project Details -
Completed

This project was one of four task order contracts awarded under the Evaluation of Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) Objectives request for task order (RFTO). The purpose of the RFTO was to fund rapid cycle evaluation studies of the implementation of Stage 3 MU proposed objectives of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. Beginning in September 2013, this year-long project assessed the nine proposed patient and family engagement and three proposed care coordination objectives for Stage 3 MU. Interviews were conducted with key stakeholders including providers, clinical staff, health information technology (IT) implementation experts, and senior leaders in 10 clinical sites at two organizations: Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina Healthcare system. In addition, focus groups were conducted with staff from two health IT regional extension centers in North Carolina and Washington, DC.

The specific objectives of this project were to answer three research questions for each proposed MU objective:

  • How can the evaluated MU objective be improved at the policy level? 
  • What EHR innovations would support meeting the evaluated MU objective? 
  • What will increase the value for hospitals and ambulatory practices implementing the proposed Stage 3 MU objective? 

Based on these key stakeholder discussions, the study team developed a total of 25 recommendations to improve the proposed Stage 3 MU objectives, including suggestions for innovations in EHRs. These recommendations were designed to inform discussions and deliberations for the preparation of the Stage 3 MU final rule, with an aim to increasing the value to stakeholder organizations.