Data is the lifeblood of the value-based payment environment. Every time a doctor takes care of a patient, we have an opportunity to use information in ways that help patients get better care. The goal is to use the information from each patient encounter to make the next encounter better – across the entire healthcare system. But it is easier said than done. As we prepare to transition from this administration, we’d like to take stock of what our nation has accomplished and to lay out a potential roadmap for the next administration.

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As we move to transform the health care system into one that delivers more coordinated care across various clinicians and providers, it is important that data is available to providers and patients when and where they need it. To achieve this goal of ensuring the flow of health data and, ultimately, better care, the country has invested in the technology and infrastructure to connect patients’ clinical experiences.

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Happy National Nurses Week!
As ONC’s Chief Nursing Officer, I spend a lot of time talking about the functionality and usability of electronic health records (EHRs) with the incredible nurses across the healthcare system. Many of us have had bad experiences using information technology (IT), and gotten frustrated with the system itself. But one thing I’ve learned in my conversations with nurses from all over is that there are many, many issues that aren’t technology or system issues at all,

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On Tuesday, I spoke at the Bipartisan Policy Center about our vision for the near future where electronic health information is unlocked and securely accessible to achieve better care, smarter spending, and healthier people.

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The 2015 Edition final rule was released earlier this fall and ONC has continued to update the landing page for the final rule with new resources, charts, and fact sheets. Our goal is to provide, in one place, educational resources that inform a variety of stakeholders.

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