Associations between Ambulatory Practice-Setting Characteristics and Demonstration of Stage 1 Meaningful Use Objectives for the EHR Incentive Program: A Descriptive Study at an Integrated Delivery System

摘要

BackgroundThe Medicare and Medicaid Meaningful Use (MU) incentive programs promote adoption and “meaningful use” of certified electronic health records among hospitals and eligible professionals (i.e., providers in outpatient settings), with a goal of improving quality of patient care. Despite the potential importance of MU for providers and patients, little is currently known about the characteristics of practice settings that facilitate providers’ demonstration of MU (i.e., meeting MU objectives). This study examined whether selected practice-setting characteristics were associated with providers’ meeting Stage 1 MU objectives at the end of year one in a single large North Carolina health center.