Meaningful use stage 2 is the second phase of the meaningful use incentive program that details the second list of criteria for the use of electronic health record (EHR) systems by eligible health care providers.

Meaningful Use

Meaningful use is using certified electronic health record (EHR) technology to: Improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities. Engage patients and family. Improve care coordination, and population and public health. Maintain privacy and security of patient health information

Meaningful Use Defined

Meaningful use is using certified electronic health record (EHR) technology to:

• Improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities
• Engage patients and family
• Improve care coordination, and population and public health
• Maintain privacy and security of patient health information

Ultimately, it is hoped that the meaningful use compliance will result in:

• Better clinical outcomes
• Improved population health outcomes
• Increased transparency and efficiency
• Empowered individuals
• More robust research data on health systems

Ref: https://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/meaningful-use-definition-objectives

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Cypress is the rigorous and repeatable testing tool of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and EHR modules in calculating Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 2 Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs). The Cypress tool is open source and freely available for use or adoption by the health IT community including EHR vendors and Authorized Testing Labs. Cypress serves as the official testing tool for the 2014 EHR Certification program supported by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC).

Certification of EHR technologies under the ONC certification program requires that EHR software products and EHR modules be tested, as applicable, for their capabilities to capture, calculate, and report accurately the CQM results. To support this, ONC has commissioned the development of the open source Cypress certification tool. Cypress has encoded the Eligible Professional (EP) and Eligible Hospital (EH) Clinical Quality Measure logic required for Meaningful Use Stage 2 in a software implementation.

Clinical quality measures, or CQMs, are tools that help measure and track the quality of health care services provided by eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) within our health care system. These measures use data associated with providers’ ability to deliver high-quality care or relate to long term goals for quality health care. CQMs measure many aspects of patient care including:

• health outcomes
• clinical processes
• patient safety
• efficient use of health care resources
• care coordination
• patient engagements
• population and public health
• adherence to clinical guidelines

Measuring and reporting CQMs helps to ensure that our health care system is delivering effective, safe, efficient, patient-centered, equitable, and timely care.

To participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs and receive an incentive payment, providers are required to submit CQM data from certified EHR technology.