Final answer:
It is true that the meaningful use of EHRs supports quality improvement in healthcare by enabling the efficient sharing of digital records among health providers, thus streamlining workflow and preventing medical errors. EHRs contribute to the reduction of healthcare costs and improvement of patient outcomes through better disease management and safety features.
Step-by-step explanation:
Meaningful use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is indeed supportive of quality improvement in healthcare settings. This assertion is aligned with the overarching objective of the EHRs incentives programs that began as part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. One of the core goals of these programs is to improve patient care by making health information available electronically.
When EHRs are used meaningfully, they facilitate a more organized and efficient workflow, enabling healthcare professionals to access and transfer patient information more readily. This can lead to better-coordinated care, as all relevant parties have up-to-date information. Additionally, EHRs have built-in features for checking potential medication errors and providing clinical alerts, which help in preventing medical errors.
Moreover, by integrating EHRs into the healthcare ecosystem, there is a potential for reduced healthcare costs through decreased paperwork, improved safety, reduced duplication of testing, and improved health outcomes stemming from better disease management. Therefore, the meaningful use of EHRs is a true catalyst for quality improvement in healthcare.