Impact of Meaningful Use Patient Engagement Objectives in a Multicultural Practice-Based Research Network (Michigan)

This is one of twelve projects funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to inform Stage 3 Meaningful Use (MU) requirements through evidence. Stage 3 MU criteria have a number of objectives for patient activation and engagement, including providing patients with after-visit summaries (AVS), patient-specific education resources, and secure messaging for provider-patient communication. While the use of an AVS is increasing, research to inform the design of them is limited.

This project will build on a prior project of AVSs, Evaluation of Computer Generated After-Visit Summaries to Support Patient-Centered Care, and evaluate the current utilization of patient engagement features of a widely implemented electronic health record (EHR) in primary care settings. The project will take place within the Southern Primary-Care Urban Research Network (SPUR-Net) in Houston Texas, which is a participating member of the Primary Care MultiEthnic Network (PRIME Net) Center of Research Excellence and Learning. Many of these clinics have implemented EHRs and actively participate in the MU EHR incentive program. SPUR-Net clinicians and researchers have conducted a number of research and practice transformation efforts on meeting MU objectives, including utilization of EHRs to meet patient engagement requirements and achieve desired outcomes among diverse subgroups of patients.

The specific aims of this project are to:

• Describe the content of a sample of AVS Patient Instructions Sections from a previously funded AHRQ project and describe the relationship between AVS Patient Instruction Section content and patient-reported outcomes. 
• Survey SPUR-Net primary care providers about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to using the AVS Patient Instructions Section. 
• Compare patients’ utilization of a secure Web portal to view their medical records and communicate with providers in a private practice versus a public health care setting that serves uninsured and under-insured, predominantly minority patients. 
• Disseminate the study findings using traditional modes, such as conference presentations and publications in peer reviewed journals as well as information technology channels, including a formal Webinar. 

This project will fill critical knowledge gaps to inform MU policy and practice implementation.