Perceptions of eligible professionals on meaningful use: A large provider survey

Background

Meaningful use (MU) was designed to encourage providers to use electronic health records meaningfully in order to directly enhance patient care. Even with financial incentives for meeting MU objectives, the rate of provider attestation for MU has been slow. Little published research has studied perspectives of eligible professionals (EPs) about MU to gain their sense of barriers and facilitators for achieving MU.

Objective/Purpose

We administered a survey in Washington State and Idaho that aimed to capture EP perceptions of MU.

Methods

We developed separate 69-item surveys for providers who have, and have not, attested for MU. Items gathered information on demographics, perceptions of MU, and progress and difficulty in attaining the stated MU Objectives. The confidential survey was conducted by mail with a prepaid incentive. The study sample is 800 EPs in the Pacific Northwest, including 400 that attested and 400 that have not. EPs were identified from Medicare attestation qualifying lists. The surveys were sent to EPs in December, 2012, with two follow-up waves in January and February, 2013.

Results

Currently, we have received 189 completed surveys. Early trends indicate that a substantial proportion of EPs have concerns about the long-term standing of MU, MU incentives, and whether MU measures capture care improvement and will contribute to improved care quality. Many EPs have not pursued MU, despite being qualified and having financial incentives to do so.

Discussion/Conclusions

EPs offer a variety of opinions concerning MU. Many have worries about whether MU offers a valid, effective way of measuring and improving healthcare. Understanding differences in the characteristics of attested and non-attested EPs will contribute significantly to MU policy and implementation.