The Health and Human Services Dept. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released a report describing the progress made on the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan. The report details:
- grant programs
- innovation challenges
- certification, standards
- regulatory policy
Key highlights of the progress report include:
- As of April 2013, 74% of eligible professionals and 87% of eligible hospitals have registered to participate in the Meaningful Use EHR Incentive Program
- Hospital EHR adoption [PDF – 966 KB] more than tripled since 2009, from 12% in 2009 to 44% in 2012
- Office-based provider adoption increased by 86% from 2009 to 2011, from 21% to 39%
- Higher levels of health information exchange, such as e-prescribing [PDF – 915 KB] (33% of providers had e-prescribing capabilities in 2009, compared with 73% in 2012)
- Health IT use for clinical quality measurement and clinical decision support to improve quality of care
- Success in improving health outcomes in communities across the U.S
- Updated privacy and security guidelines to address new technologies and uses of health IT
- Greater consumer access to health information through eHealth tools, such as patient portals
- Collaboration between private and public sector on innovative approaches, using health IT to solve health care problems
This year, the ONC’s priorities will focus on collaborating with its federal partners and private stakeholders to expand health information exchanges and interoperability, optimizing tools and processes designed for Meaningful Use EHR Incentive program and increasing patient engagement.
The ONC plans to release an updated progress report later in the year.
Background
On November 10, 2011, the ONC published the first version of the The Federal Health IT Strategic Plan 2011 – 2015 outlining Federal government’s strategy to improve health and health care for all Americans through use of health information and technology.
The Plan, building on efforts to expand EHR adoption and the use of health IT, set five goals for how health IT would create an infrastructure that supports the nation’s vision of better health, better care, and lower costs:
1) Achieve Adoption and Information Exchange through Meaningful Use of Health IT;
2) Improve Care, Improve Population health, and Reduce health Care Costs through the Use of Health IT;
3) Inspire Confidence and Trust in Health IT;
4) Empower Individuals with Health IT to Improve their Health and the Health Care System; and
5) Achieve Rapid Learning and Technological Advancement.
View/Download the report here- http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/federal-health-it-strategic-plan-progress-report-0613.paper_version.v2.pdf
