Discussion: HITECH Legislation
In order for organizations to receive the incentives offered through the HITECH
legislation, they must be able to demonstrate that they are using the technology in
meaningful ways. The following criteria for meaningful use must be evident to qualify for
EHR incentives (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). The technology
must:
�Improve quality, safety, and efficiency, and reduce health disparities
�Engage patients and families
�Improve care coordination
�Improve population and public health
�Ensure adequate privacy and security protections for personal health information
For this Discussion you consider the impact of the meaningful use criteria of the HITECH
legislation on the adoption of health information technology.
To prepare:
�Review the Learning Resources on the HITECH legislation and its primary goals.
�Reflect on the positive and negative impact this legislation has had on your organization
or one with which you are familiar.
�Consider the incentives to encourage the use of EHRs. Focus on the definition of
meaningful use and how it is measured.
�Reflect on how the incentives and meaningful use impact the quality of patient care.
�Find an article in the Walden Library dealing with one of the criteria to qualify for
meaningful use and how it has been successfully met.
By Day 3
Post a description of how HITECH legislation has positively or negatively impacted your
organization. Address how its related incentives influence the adoption of health
information technology in health care and impact the quality of patient care. Provide a
summary of the article you identified and explain how it demonstrates the ability of health
information technology to meet the requirements of meaningful use.
HITECH Legislation
HITECH LEGISLATION 2
The Health Information Technology Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) legislation
has generated positive impacts on the current organization as far as technological advancement
and improvement in health care quality are concerned. Due to the influence of HITECH
legislation, the current organization has adopted modern and highly performing information
technology tools for use in delivery of health care. Furthermore, the strict rules provided by the
legislation have encouraged the current organization to formulate and implement policies, which
guide health care practitioners to use the available technology to deliver primary care. The high-
quality care that the organization currently provides due to an influence of HITECH legislation
has kept patients coming back, a factor that has greatly impacted on revenue as supported by
Kempfert and Reed, 2011).
Incentives related to the HITECH legislation significantly influence the adoption of
health information technology in the organization to facilitate health care delivery. Since the
organization meets the standards set for meaningful use of electronic health records, it has been
receiving Medicare and Medicaid enticement compensations for use in the adoption of health
information technology (Brown, 2010; & Murphy, 2010). While selecting the best electronic
health records system to implement, the goal of the organization is to adopt a health information
technology system that can generate desirable improvements (Classen & Bates, 2011; & Arlotto,
2010). Focusing on the definition of meaningful use of electronic health records and how it is
measured, the current health care organization extensively use health information technology in
patient identification, to enhance communication between the doctors and patients, to coordinate
activities, to promote wellness and good health, and to maximize protection of patients’ data
(U.S Department of Health & Human Services, 2012).
HITECH LEGISLATION 3
The adoption of health information technology systems, as a result of the influence of
HITECH legislation, has a positive impact on the quality of patient care, and this is defined
based on the measures for meaningful use as explained by the U.S Department of Health &
Human Services (2012). For instance, by using health information technology to identify
patients, the health care organization has been able to minimize medical errors, and this has
greatly improved patient safety and health care quality. Again, improved communication
between the doctor and the patients’ families has helped the physician to obtain relevant
information for use in patient care. Additionally, health information technology has enhanced
coordination among physicians who are directly involved in the care of a patient, and this
contributes to an improvement in the quality of care received by patients. Moreover, using health
information technology, the organization has been able to guide the patient on issues related to
wellness and health promotion and to protect patients’ private data, both of which have played a
significant role in improving the quality of patient care (McGonigle and Mastrian, 2015; Begum
et al., 2013).
An article that critically explores one of the criteria to qualify for meaningful use as well
as how it has successfully been met is that of Classen and Bates, (2011). According to Classen
and Bates, (2011), one of the criteria for meaningful use that health care organizations must meet
for them to receive the HITECH adoption and implementation incentives is the ability to use
electronic health records to “improve quality, safety, and efficiency (p. 855).” These authors
emphasize that health information technology has successfully helped organizations to meet the
requirements of meaningful use with regards to efficiency, health care quality, and patient safety.
However, Classen and Bates, (2011) remind health care organizations that they must ensure that
the type of health information technology being adopted can generate the desired improvements.
HITECH LEGISLATION 4
References
Arlotto, P. (2010). Seven strategies for improving HITECH readiness. HFM (Healthcare
Financial Management), 64(11), 90–96. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Begum, R., Smith Ryan, M., Winther, C. H., Wang, J. J., Bardach, N. S., Parsons, A. H., & …
Adams Dudley, R. (2013). Small Practices’ Experience With EHR, Quality
Measurement, and Incentives. American Journal of Managed Care, 19eSP12–8.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.