APhA Submits Recommendations For The Term "Meaningful Use" In TheDevelopment Of Policy Related To Electronic Health Records

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 05 Jul 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) submitted comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's (ONC) request for feedback on determining criteria for the term "meaningful use" of electronic records (EHRs), prepared by ONC's HIT Policy Committee.

In developing and implementing an EHR for the health care system that will transform health care delivery and ensure the outcomes desired, EHR system development, implementation, and access must occur by all health care providers from whom patients are receiving care. APhA contends that inclusion of a pharmacy EHR into the HIT infrastructure will make significant contributions to meeting the health outcomes policy priorities, care goals, and short and long term objectives for "meaningful use."

- APhA's comments focused on the important role that pharmacists can play in enhancing the meaningful use of EHR and in achieving the goals envisioned across the continuum of health care, including:

- Recognition of the incidence and significance of medication-related problems in the U.S. and the important role that pharmacists providing medication therapy management can provide to achieve the desired goals of eliminating medication errors and addressing medication-related problems.

- Recognition of the need for EHR system development, implementation and access by all health care providers, including pharmacists, from whom patients are receiving care to create the most comprehensive EHR and provide all health care providers the highest level of "meaningful use "of these records.

- Support for the adoption, integration and use of EHR systems in all health care sectors by all health care providers, including pharmacists, that includes incentives for the implementation of these systems.

- Acknowledgement that current electronic systems rarely connect the silos of medical records and pharmacy and that the interconnectivity of all systems with appropriate access by all healthcare providers, patients and their caregivers is essential to "meaningful use".

- Recognition of the significant contribution that pharmacists can provide to the EHR to achieve "meaningful use" and desired benefits of HIT within the health care system.

View APhA's complete comments and recommendations .

Source
American Pharmacists Association (APhA)

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