Study identifies top MU challenges

The biggest challenges for providers related to the Meaningful Use (MU) program are the clinical summary measurement, the required security risk analysis and patient smoking status reporting, according to a new study published in Medical Care, the Journal of the Medical Care Section of the American Public Health Association.  

The study is the first nationwide assessment of MU challenges and is based on data collected from 55 regional extension centers throughout 2012, reporting more than 19,000 issues from more than 43,000 providers. Others issues noted were provider engagement, vendor selection, administrative practices issues, delays in implementation/installation and practice workflow adoption.

Challenges meeting specific Stage 1 measurements accounted for 14 percent of the reports. The measure that appeared easiest for providers to meet focused on drug-drug and drug-allergy interactions.

The study's authors include current Brookings Institution visiting fellow and former National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari, MD, MSc. They suggested that the data be used proactively. "New challenges emerge as providers progress toward MU, creating opportunities to preempt large-scale issues with timely interventions," they wrote. "These interventions must take into account organizational and cultural dynamics, increasing the need to identify multiple, often setting-specific, solutions. If identified quickly and a timely response is provided, problems may be halted before becoming widespread or impeding progress."