Achieving the Meaningful Use Standard: A Model for Implementing Change Within Medical Practices

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Healthcare Management
• Oncology Practice Management

Background:

• Implementing change in medical practices faces barriers like lack of standards and leadership.
• The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act's meaningful use (MU) program incentivized electronic health record (EHR) adoption.
• US Oncology Network leadership initiated an MU program to support EHR integration and compliance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a comprehensive meaningful use (MU) initiative within the US Oncology Network.
• To assess the effectiveness of a structured change management system in achieving MU standards for eligible practitioners.

Main Methods:

• Modified the existing EHR system to meet MU specifications and obtained certification.
• Assessed baseline compliance, defined workflow processes, and designated practice-based MU leads.
• Developed training modules for all staff levels and created an automated MU measurement and feedback tool.

Main Results:

• Out of 943 eligible practitioners, 83% achieved MU standards by March 2013, significantly exceeding national averages (44% overall, 26% for oncologists).
• Baseline compliance varied widely (0% to 100%), with initial challenges in data entry.
• The initiative facilitated achievement of MU standards within 18 months of program launch.

Conclusions:

• Successful change management in healthcare requires a multifaceted approach including leadership, education, and support.
• Timely data feedback and clearly defined incentives are crucial for effective adoption of health IT standards.
• Incentive programs alone are insufficient for driving successful practice transformation.