In today's Health IT News there is an article expressing dissappointment with the recently released proposed rules for Stage 2 of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program. Some alarming viewpoints are evident in this article regarding the collection of data for use by the federal government to improve public health .
The proposed rule for Meaningful Use Stage 2 on page 13702-13703 specifically states that the purpose of Stage 2 Meaningful use is to "“encourage the use of health IT for continuous quality improvement at the point of care and the exchange of information in the most structured format possible”. No where in the rule does it state that the primary purpose of Stage 2 Meaningful Use is to collect data for use by the federal government as is suggested by concerns expressed in this article. Let's keep the data collection cart behind the trailblazing horse so that it does not aimlessly roll down the steepest part of the hill instead of steering toward most beneficial path. Stage 2 objectives draw a sensible roadmap to the next planned destination where we can finally begin realizing the maximum potential value of health IT and EHRs. We currently have the horse trotting around potholes toward the widespread adoption and successful use of EHRs, the development of robust HIE networks, the maturation of EHR product functionalities and an improved understanding of safe EHR usage. If we fail to align Stage 2 activities with Stage 2 goals by taking unplanned shortcuts to collect and use data in hopes of improving care now, I fear the cart will crash and cripple the momentum that Stage 1 has initiated.
