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HIMSS: Nearly half of hospitals ready for Stage 1 of meaningful use

by Olga Deshchenko, DOTmed News Reporter | February 23, 2011
Nearly half of hospitals are ready to meet Stage 1 meaningful use requirements, according to new survey data released Tuesday at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society's 2011 conference.

Out of the hospitals that responded to the survey, 44 percent said they are "most likely" or "likely" to meet Stage 1 meaningful use measures and objectives, a qualifier for the financial incentives tied to the successful implementation of electronic health records.

Of the 44 percent of respondents, 58 percent said they expect to achieve all of the meaningful use core measurements by May 2012, according to the survey. HIMSS Analytics, a nonprofit subsidiary of HIMSS, conducted the survey.

Currently, 24 questions on Stage 1 meaningful use criteria are part of HIMSS Analytics' annual survey of more than 5,000 hospitals across the country. (The organization began collecting data in May 2010.)

Of the 999 hospitals that have responded to the survey since May 2010, 25 percent are ready to meet 10 or more of Stage 1 core measures and at least five of the menu items. HIMSS Analytics expects to see an increase in hospital meaningful use readiness as the deadline for Stage 1 compliance inches closer, the nonprofit said.

To qualify for the financial incentives as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services EHR Incentives Program, facilities must successfully demonstrate meaningful use of EHR technology by 2013.

"As expected, the data indicates that hospitals well-positioned to achieve the meaningful use criteria demonstrate high levels of EMR adoption as reflected in the HIMSS Analytics EMR Adoption Model," John P. Hoyt, Executive Vice President, Organizational Services, with HIMSS, said in prepared remarks. "Further analysis of the data will be explored, including EMR adoption as it correlates to meaningful use."

Is your facility on track to meaningful use? Click here to read an exclusive DOTmed Business News EHR/EMR report.