While meeting stage 1 requirements for meaningful use is unlikely to significantly affect hospital mortality rates, later stages that require greater participation may produce benefits, according to a study published in Health Affairs.
Researchers studied the impact of meaningful use criteria on hospital mortality. They found that the stage 1 benchmark that providers use CPOE for at least 30 percent of eligible patients is unlikely to influence rates of death from heart failure and heart attack among hospitalized Medicare patients. The proposed participation level of 60 percent for stage 2, however, may produce benefits.
Results showed that CPOE use with more than 50 percent of patients was more consistently associated with lower mortality for heart attack and heart failure. The authors conclude that stage 2 CPOE requirements for meaningful use are more likely than stage 1 levels to benefit patients' health.
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Researchers studied the impact of meaningful use criteria on hospital mortality. They found that the stage 1 benchmark that providers use CPOE for at least 30 percent of eligible patients is unlikely to influence rates of death from heart failure and heart attack among hospitalized Medicare patients. The proposed participation level of 60 percent for stage 2, however, may produce benefits.
Results showed that CPOE use with more than 50 percent of patients was more consistently associated with lower mortality for heart attack and heart failure. The authors conclude that stage 2 CPOE requirements for meaningful use are more likely than stage 1 levels to benefit patients' health.
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