Stage 1

The Stage 1 definition of Meaningful Use includes both a core set and a menu set of objectives that are specific for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals(EH’s), and critical access hospital (CAHs), in addition to reporting of clinical quality measures. This gives providers latitude to choose their own path to full EHR implementation and meaningful use. Objectives include basic entry of patient data such as vital signs, active medications, allergies, up-to-date problem lists of current and active diagnoses and smoking status in an electronic medical record system as structured data which can be utilized for further analysis and provide better patient care.

Eligible Professionals

• Must meet 15 core objectives that enable EHRs to support improved healthcare
• Must meet five additional objectives from a menu of 10 to implement in 2011-2012
• Must report six total Clinical Quality Measures (3 core or alternate core, and 3 out of 38 from alternate set)

Eligible Hospitals and CAHs

• Must meet 14 core objectives
• Must meet five additional objectives from a menu of 10 to implement in 2011-2012
• Must report 15 Clinical Quality Measures

• Making Sense of Meaningful Use
• Meaningful Use Stage 1 Requirements Overview
• Meaningful Use Readiness Checklist