In order for organizations to receive the incentives offered through the HITECH legislation, they must be able to demonstrate that they are using the technology in meaningful ways. The following criteria for meaningful use must be evident to qualify for EHR incentives (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012). The technology must:

• Improve quality, safety, and efficiency, and reduce      health disparities
• Engage patients and families
• Improve care coordination
• Improve population and public health
• Ensure adequate privacy and security protections for      personal health information

For this Discussion you consider the impact of the meaningful use criteria of the HITECH legislation on the adoption of health information technology.

To prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources on the HITECH legislation      and its primary goals.
• Reflect on the positive and negative impact this      legislation has had on your organization or one with which you are      familiar.
• Consider the incentives to encourage the use of EHRs.      Focus on the definition of meaningful use and how it is measured.
• Reflect on how the incentives and meaningful use impact      the quality of patient care.
• Find an article in the Walden Library dealing with one      of the criteria to qualify for meaningful use and how it has been      successfully met.

Post a description of how HITECH legislation has positively or negatively impacted your organization. Address how its related incentives influence the adoption of health information technology in health care and impact the quality of patient care. Provide a summary of the article you identified and explain how it demonstrates the ability of health information technology to meet the requirements of meaningful use.

OLDER ADULTS

1. Why do many people seem to have negative feelings toward elders? What do you think that they fear when interacting with or touching older people? How can you as a nurse can overcome some of those fears or hesitations?
2. What types of rights do feel older adults should have when it comes to the end or prolong their life? If older adults with dementia or longtime chronic illnesses choose to withhold food/water or refuse treatment for an illness, do you feel that is within their rights? How would you counsel family members to deal with these types of issues?
3. Mention some strategies for assisting older adults in avoiding the problems of polypharmacy and organizing their medications in an easy to understand and use format. What are the different strategies that could be used? How would strategies change if the patient had hearing or vision deficits? What about if the patient were illiterate?

 As stated in the syllabus the assignment must be presented in an APA format word document, Arial 12 font attached to the forum on the discussion board.  A minimum of 3 evidenced-based references must be used (excluding the class textbook) and one of them must be from a Geriatric Nursing Journal and 2 replies to any of your peers sustained with the appropriate references must be posted.  Only the assignment must be attached in a word document in the forum, replies do not.  References must be no older than 5 years.  A minimum of 700 words is required.  Please follow the instructions on how to present the first page and the name of the assignment when you post should be Week 13 discussion questions.