What does 'meaningful use' refer to in the context of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)?

The term 'meaningful use' in the context of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) refers specifically to a set of qualifications that eligible healthcare providers must meet to receive incentive payments from Medicare and Medicaid. This initiative was part of the HITECH Act, which aimed to encourage the adoption and effective use of EHRs among providers.

Meaningful use was designed to ensure that EHR systems would not only facilitate the electronic storage of health information but also improve patient care by promoting specific objectives such as the electronic exchange of health information and the use of EHRs to improve healthcare outcomes. By meeting meaningful use criteria, healthcare providers could qualify for financial incentives, thus fostering a broader and more efficient implementation of health information technology.

Other choices reference important aspects surrounding EHRs, such as guidelines for implementation, standards for data privacy and security, and mandates for patient engagement, but they do not encapsulate the specific financial incentive program tied to the meaningful use of EHRs.