In light of the ever-changing healthcare IT landscape and the industry demand for timely and accurate information, IT consultancy CSC created a Meaningful Use Community, an open and interactive online community for providers seeking to achieve meaningful use of EHRs. The community will provide healthcare professionals a forum to connect with others who have successfully implemented EHR and share guidance that will help others accomplish meaningful use. In addition, the community will offer access to CSC experts and other industry leaders for advice, information to stay abreast of the federal government’s criteria, and insights on how to implement meaningful use of EHR in a timely manner. HCI will be speaking to CSC Community Manager Tim Raimey regarding this community later this week.
In a soon to be released survey of hospital executives from CSC, the majority of respondents (67 percent) have implemented or are in the process of implementing new capabilities in order to meet the requirements of meaningful use. However, the survey found that the biggest barrier for hospitals to move forward in preparing for meaningful use is that the final rule had not been finalized (as reported by 60 percent when the survey was conducted in late June and early July).