Define meaningful use and the 15 mandatory criteria

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Meaningful use of electronic health records is defined by the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (ONCHIT). It refers to meeting 15 required criteria and an additional 5 out of 10 other criteria. The following 15 criteria are mandatory and must be included:
a. Patient demographics (race, gender, date of birth, preferred language)
b. Vital signs (height, weight, blood pressure, body mass index, and for children, growth)
c. Up-to-date problem lists
d. Active medication lists
e. Active medication allergy lists
f. A patient's smoking status
g. A summary of a visit, to be provided to a patient who requests it, within 3 days
h. Electronic health information, to be provided to a patient who requests it, within 3 days
i. The ability to generate electronic prescriptions
j. The ability to use computerized physician order entry (for medications)
k. The capacity to perform drug/drug and drug/allergy interaction tests
l. The ability to send and receive information electronically
m. One clinical decision-support rule
n. Protection of the privacy and security of patient information
o. Report to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or the state