In probably the biggest news of the day at HIMSS, we got the following tweet spreading quickly through the Twittersphere:
http://twitter.com/#!/techguy/status/39359393585700864
There you have it. Word out of ONC is that meaningful use stage 2 will include some form of EHR usability. How that will be, I don’t think even ONC knows. Although, I’m sure they’ll consider looking at the EHR usability that’s already in CCHIT.
What I don’t understand is why they would do this. First, it should be part of the EHR certification and not meaningful use (maybe it was a mistweet). Why would ONC want to measure an EHR’s usability during meaningful use? That’s too late, no? Although, maybe it’s just ONC trying to collect data for other doctors that will select an EHR later? I don’t understand it.
Plus, let’s look at the EHR usability that’s been done by CCHIT. Has it really improved the usability of EHR systems?
I asked someone at HIMSS this question, and they said something like, “Of course not.”
We all want the EHR software to be usable. I just don’t understand how ONC adding it to meaningful use stage 2 will help achieve that goal.
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I was in that session and it was a slight mistweet. They discussed adding usability testing to the Stage 2 certification process. Almost everyone in the room was a vendor or vendor consultant, so to us, EHR certification = meaningful use LOL
You can see Dr. Friedman’s presentation here: http://www.himssconference.com/docs/sphandouts/ARRA2.pdf
The key slide on page 5 has exactly what he said (and he would not say more):
“We are exploring options for stimulating a competitive
market that will improve usability and thus safety of EHR systems. Working with NIST, AHRQ, and key
stakeholders, we will be actively developing necessary
criteria and test procedures and will coordinate this
activity with work on Stage 2 of Meaningful Use.”
Thanks for the clarification. That makes more sense.
Perhaps a more reliable metric of EHR usability is that if a lot of providers who buy a package want their money back … it’s probably not very usable. Just sayin.
The idea the ONC is going to have a clue as to what is usable and what isn’t is laughable. They ain’t buyin.
Looks like another case of the Administration picking winners to me.
I don’t think it’s the administration picking winners as much as the government trying to do some good things with good intents, but without the tools to be able to do those things.
Oh that makes me feel lots better knowing they have the talent and experience to determine what passes the usability test … given that they aren’t users.
They’ll probably hire consultants who will tell then what is acceptable use limitations and then get the ATCB’s to ‘evaluate’ the packages.
Just another “meaningless use” expense that the providers will pay and pass on to their customers.
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