The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Meaningful Use and Patient Engagement – Supporting eHealth Literacy

Meaningful Use and Patient Engagement – Supporting eHealth Literacy

September 1, 2011 • By Staff

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

The objectives for eligible providers (EPs), which are most relevant for patient engagement and the promotion of health literacy, include:

You Might Also Like
  • What Does Stage 2 Meaningful Use Mean for Your Rheumatology Practice?
  • Meaningful Use Road Map: Steps to Get Started
  • Measuring Up for Meaningful Use
Explore This Issue
September 2011
Also By This Author
  • Some Lupus Tests Yield False Results

Providing Clinical Summaries at Each Visit

Measure: Clinical summaries provided to patients within three business days for more than 50% of all office visits.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

While the measure sets the threshold of 50% of all patients, CMS states that a clinical summary should be provided at all office visits. Research suggests that immediately after a visit, patients forget somewhere between 40% and 80% of the medical information they receive, and of the information remembered, about half is remembered incorrectly. Providing a written after-visit summary with key health information, a summary of issues discussed at the visit, and instructions for self-care and follow-up in combination with the verbal information delivered during the visit can have a greater impact on a patient’s understanding of their disease state and instruction for care than verbal information alone.

Note that the summary can be delivered by paper or electronic means (e.g., patient portal or secure e-mail).

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Sending Patient Reminders for Preventative/Follow-up Care

Measure: More than 20% of all unique patients 65 years or older or five years old or younger were sent an appropriate reminder during the EHR reporting period, per patient preference.

It is important to note that the patient reminders referred to in this objective are not simply appointment confirmations sent to the patient as a reminder for an already-scheduled appointment. This objective focuses on sending patients in specific age groups reminders that alert patients to recommended tests, preventative services, or other care. To be most effective, these alerts should be relevant, targeted to unique patients, and based on the medical condition, age, gender, and/or other factors related to clinical guidelines (See Table 1). Using the EHR to query your patient data and identify those who need to respond to care recommendations is key for automating this process. Once the alert or reminder has been conveyed to the patient, then your practice can schedule the patient for an appointment, as appropriate.

These reminders can be sent via mail or through electronic means such as patient portal, secure e-mail, or even text message, if appropriate. The rule states that reminders should be sent “per patient preference,” which refers to the identification of a patient’s preferred means of communication and not inquiries as to whether a patient would like to receive service reminders.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Table 1: What’s Included in the After-visit Summary?

CMS states that, at a minimum, the after-visit summary should include the following:

  • The patient name;
  • Provider’s office contact information;
  • Date and location of visit;
  • An updated medication list and summary of current medications;
  • Updated vitals;
  • Reason(s) for the visit;
  • Procedures and other instructions based on clinical discussions that took place during the office visit;
  • Any updates to a problem list;
  • Immunizations or medications administered during the visit;
  • Summary of topics covered/considered during the visit;
  • Time and location of next appointment/testing if scheduled or a recommended appointment time if not scheduled;
  • List of other appointments and testing the patient needs to schedule, with contact information;
  • Recommended patient decision aids;
  • Laboratory and other diagnostic test orders;
  • Test/laboratory results (if received before 24 hours after the visit); and
  • Symptoms.

These elements are included as part of EHR certification and the capabilities are included in certified EHR technology. However, rheumatology providers are encouraged to work with their EHR vendors in order to make capabilities as relevant to their individual practices as possible.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 | Single Page

Filed Under: Electronic Health Records, From the College, Information Technology, Practice Management, Technology Tagged With: electronic health record, health information, Meaningful use, Medicare, Practice Management, TechnologyIssue: September 2011

You Might Also Like:
  • What Does Stage 2 Meaningful Use Mean for Your Rheumatology Practice?
  • Meaningful Use Road Map: Steps to Get Started
  • Measuring Up for Meaningful Use
  • Are You a Meaningful User?

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

Patient & Caregiver Resources

Find a rheumatology provider. Learn about your condition and how to live with it. English and Spanish language resources.

View Patient & Caregiver Resources »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)