Meaningful use defined Meaningful Use is a a set of criteria for the use of EHR systems to improve patient care by healthcare providers. The concept of meaningful use was developed by the National Quality Forum (NQF); their ideas included improved population health, coordination of care, improved safety, and patient engagement. The U.S. Healthcare Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) established incentives for adopting Meaningful Use criteria beginning in 2012, with the possibility of penalties for failure to achieve the standards by 2015. In August 2012, CMS released the final rules for meaningful use Stage 2.