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From the ONC Desk, Meaningful Use Recent Study: Get the Facts
Dr. Farzad Mostashari | March 6, 2012
Apparently, doctors who order a lot of imaging tests are more likely to have electronic systems that let them view those images in their offices.
That is the finding of an article appearing in the March 2012 issue of Health Affairs by McCormick and colleagues. This is not a particularly surprising observation. What is surprising is that the authors go far beyond the scope of their research to conclude that “the federal government’s ongoing,
Health Innovation A Consumer Perspective on the HIMSS 2012 Conference
Lygeia Ricciardi | March 2, 2012
Last week, 37,000 people gathered in Las Vegas for the HIMSS 2012 Conference—the health information technology industry’s largest annual meeting. Energy was high as product vendors and health care providers anxiously awaited the release of proposed rules for Stage 2 of Meaningful Use, the federal incentive program that is jumpstarting widespread adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers.
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From the ONC Desk, Health Innovation HIMSS 2012 Interoperability Showcase Participants Get a Surprise Challenge
Dr. Doug Fridsma | February 29, 2012
Last Thursday, National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari made an impromptu visit to the ONC/FHA area of the HIMSS 2012 Interoperability Showcase. He gathered the participants and issued a surprise challenge: In the next hour, demonstrate interoperable health information exchange with another showcase participant whom you haven’t exchanged information with before.
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From the ONC Desk Stage 2 Meaningful Use NPRM Moves Toward Patient-Centered Care Through Wider Use of EHRs
Dr. Farzad Mostashari | February 24, 2012
Substantial evidence shows that higher adoption of electronic health records (EHR) can save our health care system money, save time for doctors and hospitals, and save lives. Thanks to the Recovery Act and the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, we have seen great success and momentum as we’ve taken the first steps toward adoption of this critical technology: to date, more than 43,000 providers have received $3.1 billion to help make the transition to EHRs;
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From the ONC Desk Major Progress in Doctors’ and Hospitals’ Use of Health IT
Dr. Farzad Mostashari | February 17, 2012
The HITECH Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, put in place new incentives for doctors and hospitals to help them make the investment in electronic health records (EHRs). It also made a very important distinction: that health IT is not just about the technology, it’s how we use the technology to improve care. It has moved health care in a direction that isn’t just about more technology it’s about using that technology in a way that’s going to be meaningful to patients.
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