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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From the ONC Desk ONC Staff Tops the Agenda at HIMSS 2012
Parmeeth M.S. Atwal | February 17, 2012
Last year, the annual HIMSS conference drew record-breaking crowds with more than 30,000 people from around the country gathered to learn about the latest health information technology (health IT) and to share ideas and experiences. Electronic health records (EHRs), meaningful use, and how to use technology to improve care dominated the schedule. Presentations by ONC staff were among the best attended.
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Federal Advisory Committees Kudos to Our Federal Advisory Committees
Judy Murphy | February 8, 2012
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is very proud of the two federal advisory committees that we support: The Health IT Policy and the Health IT Standards Committees. Created by the HITECH Act to provide input on the policies and technologies needed to improve health and care, the Committees, as noted in a recent blog post by David Kibbe and Brian Klepper , are an invaluable resource.
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