Welcome to the Health IT Buzz Blog
Learn more about HHS’s Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
Beacon Communities The Beacon Communities’ Experience Investing in Health IT and Innovation to Improve Population Health
Janhavi Kirtane Fritz | December 19, 2013
The 17 ONC-funded Beacon Communities have learned a few things while on the front lines of the health IT revolution, and they want to share those successes and challenges to help others across the country move toward interoperability.
Read Full Post.
From the ONC Desk ONC convenes stakeholders to discuss patient matching later in December
Lee Stevens | December 10, 2013
As organizations are sharing more and more health information electronically, the need for improved patient identification and matching across organizations has become clear. In September, we announced a dedicated initiative to assess what’s working well and where there are gaps, and to explore possible ways patient matching could be improved. Those initial findings from our current efforts will be discussed at a meeting here in Washington, D.C. on December 16, 2013.
Read Full Post.
Electronic Health & Medical Records Progress on Adoption of Electronic Health Records
Jacob Reider | December 6, 2013
New Data Shows Rapid Adoption of EHRs; Announcements of 2015 Policies
Since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – which included the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs – was signed into law, the nation has seen unprecedented growth in the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). Between 2009 and 2012, EHR adoption nearly doubled among physicians and more than tripled among hospitals. Every month, thousands of providers join the ranks of hospitals and professionals that have adopted or are meaningfully using EHRs.
Electronic Health & Medical Records A Guide: How to Identify and Address Unsafe Conditions Associated with Health IT
Kathy Kenyon | December 5, 2013
When front line clinicians confront a clinical mishap or unsafe condition in EHR-enabled healthcare settings (such as a medication error or a missed diagnosis) they may not connect the clinical event with how EHR use could have helped prevent it, how misuse or failure to use EHR functionality as intended contributed to the problem, or how weaknesses in EHR configuration, interfaces, or usability contributed.
Read Full Post.
Consumer Engagement Thanksgiving: a time for family, a time for health and an IT tool that can help
RADM Boris D. Lushniak | November 26, 2013
Thanksgiving is a great time to learn more about our family’s health. That’s why I designated Thanksgiving as “Family Health History Day.” The more you understand about your family health history, the more you and your health care provider can predict your risk for health problems and identify screening and treatment options that are best for you. And we have an electronic tool that can help you both.
Read Full Post.