Which of the following is NOT a Stage 1 meaningful use category?

• A. Improve care coordination is a Stage 1 category.
• B. Define minimum EHR functionality is not a Stage 1 category.
• C. Improve population and public health is a Stage 1 category.
• D. Engage patients and families is a Stage 1 category.

Answer: (D)

Stage 1 meaningful use categories are about establishing baseline EHR capabilities and foundational improvements to care processes and public health reporting. The focus is on provider- and system-level functions that support quality and coordination at the practice level. Engaging patients and families, while important, is typically addressed in Stage 2 and beyond, which emphasizes more direct patient-facing features such as patient portal access and secure messaging. The other statements align with Stage 1 goals: defining the minimum EHR functionality establishes the required baseline capabilities; improving care coordination targets how information is shared and used across settings; and improving population and public health relates to reporting and surveillance needs inherent to the Stage 1 foundations. Therefore, engaging patients and families is not a Stage 1 category.