What Do You Mean, "Meaningful Use"?

People are starting to get a little bit testy out there as the "meaningful use" process keeps rolling along, some would say, a little too quickly. The HIT Policy Committee apparently received criticism that not enough time is being allowed for public comment. Yet we all know how quickly 2010 will be upon us and how important it is to get a, any, definition of EHR "meaningful use".

Of note, the HIT Policy Committee is starting to whittle down "meaningful" EHR functions such as requiring drug-drug and drug-allergy alerts. Quality measures too, such as smoking cessation counseling, are being bandied about. I'll be interested in seeing how the committee works out the details because, for example, if I went to the doc's for a broken arm I'd rather not be asked about my smoking status.