Which of the following is an example of Stage 3 criteria for 'meaningful use'?

• A. Advanced decision-support and population health
• B. Submission of 80% of provider orders electronically
• C. Structured data exchange and continuous quality improvement
• D. Use of EHR data to track conditions and coordinate care

Answer: (A)

Stage 3 meaningful use centers on using EHR data to drive improved health outcomes through advanced clinical decision support and population health management. This pairing—integrating sophisticated decision-support tools with strategies that manage the health of populations—embodies the leap in capabilities that Stage 3 aims for: turning data into actionable, outcome-focused care at both the individual and group levels. That’s why advanced decision-support and population health is the best example. The other options reflect earlier-stage goals (such as basic electronic ordering or data exchange) rather than the higher-level, outcome-driven focus of Stage 3.