What's the meaning of "Meaningful Use"?

Those of us involved in health information technology have been pondering the meaning of a the term 'meaningful use'. Because for those health care providers, hospitals and clinics looking to get their share of the $20 billion of stimulus money aimed at HIT applications this term defines everything.

When you read the HITECH act, the over 100 pages of the 2009 stimulus package that defines which health IT applications qualify for stimulus incentives you understand that the money is not paid up front, but instead will be distributed to those who implement a certified electronic medical record that meets certain criteria some of which will be described by the office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. This role was recently filled by David Blumethal from Harvard by President Obama

Health providers who want clearer definitions of 'meaningful use' before they make significant investments in IT to comply with federal regulations will want to attend hearing on “meaningful use” for healthcare information technology next week hosted by the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics.

On April 28-29 executive subcommittee meeting will be held in Washington, DC and will focus on use as it relates to the capacity and functionality of electronic health records, quality reporting, health information exchange, and population/public health. Sessions also will discuss meaningful use in health IT product certification, and panelists will talk about ways to help vendors, providers and other healthcare stakeholders reach health IT goals by 2011.

I will be there to find out what all of this means to minority and underserved populations, I hope to see you there.