Meaningful Use Resources | International Society for Disease Surveillance

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Two proposed regulations from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide certification criteria and measures for implementing the first stage of electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These programs will provide reimbursements to hospitals and providers who become “meaningful users” of EHR technology. Under the proposed regulations, one goal of Meaningful Use (MU) is to improve population and public health.

On March 15th, 2010, based on comments from our membership received through an on-line survey and other communications, the ISDS Board of Directors submitted comments to the federal government on the proposed measures and certification criteria for the “meaningful use” of electronic health record technology.

  • Read the ISDS’ letter to ONCHIT.
  • Read the ISDS’ letter to CMS. 

In particular, these comments were focused around two proposed certification criteria and measures (or tests) that impact the ability of public health authorities to conduct surveillance using syndromic or electronic health care data.  More details on these proposed criteria can be found in this document. 

ISDS Meaningful Use Recommendation

Meaningful Use: What It Is and Why It Matters

A webinar hosted by the ISDS and the Distribute Community of Practice on March 5th, 2010.

Expert panelists Art Davidson (Denver Health) and Julia Gunn (Boston Public Health Commission), whose respective organizations were 2009 Davies Awards recipients, gave a 30 minute webinar on Meaningful Use and electronic health record technology. This webinar aimed to assist attendees in gaining a better understanding of Meaningful Use, how it may impact their surveillance work, and how they can work with ISDS to represent their perspectives and that of their local or state health agencies.

 

Other Resources:

PHIN Messaging Guide for Syndromic Surveillance (pdf)

 

HIMSS page on Meaningful Use, Certification Criteria and Standards, and HHS Certification Process

 

Health 2.0’s recent webinar A Conversation With the ONCHIT (May 5th posting on the Previous Webinars page)

 

HealthAffairs Blog entries on HealthIT

 

HLN Consulting, LLC. (San Diego, CA) web page on Meaningful Use:  Syndromic Surveillance

 

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Meaningful Use