Omaha System and meaningful use: Applications for practice, education, and research

Background and Issues: Increasingly, public health nurses need to standardize their practice and documentation, quantify outcomes, and use electronic health records (EHRs). Description: Leaders in practice, education, and research are exploring how to use EHRs to promote health in their communities. In 2009, “meaningful use” was introduced as a federal mandate primarily for hospitals and physicians; the purpose was to encourage interoperability (the exchange and use of health information) to best inform clinical decisions at the point of care. As part of a broader perspective, many national and global leaders are embracing the Omaha System as a point of care terminology to increase interoperability and support evidence-based practice and EHRs. Public health practice sites in Minnesota, Maine, Washington, California, and Arizona have used the Omaha System and EHRs effectively with high risk parent-child, infectious disease, child health care consultation, and fragile elder programs. Educators are including the Omaha System and EHRs as essential components of curricula; the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and San Jose State University are leaders. The University of Pennsylvania's Transitional Care Model and data mining and home health studies at the University of Minnesota represent a substantial body of research that demonstrates how the Omaha System contributes to meaningful use criteria. Lessons Learned: The Omaha System is a standardized terminology that can support and improve client-centered clinical practice, education, and research. Recommendations: Public health nurses need to become informed and involved with EHRs, meaningful use of clinical data, and standardized terminologies such as the Omaha System.