Astute readers of the Health IT Buzz Blog (are there any other kind?) and those familiar with ONC’s 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) Final Rule will recall that we’ve talked a lot about the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI). ONC’s Cures Act Final Rule adopted USCDI version 1 as a standard, thereby establishing a new baseline for the data elements required to be accessible through certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.

Seven years ago the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) began work on the Patient Unified Lookup System for Emergencies (PULSE). PULSE is an effort to create national resilience by improving first responder access to patient electronic health information they need to provide services and ensure public health during disasters, including public health emergencies.

When a family member, friend, or loved one develops an opioid addiction, few people know how to respond. Similarly, it is often difficult for healthcare providers to know how to best prevent, detect, and treat opioid use disorder, and almost every provider in the country has had encounters with patients experiencing addiction. As trusted guardians of their patients’ well-being, providers are exploring how to use technology to augment their experience, skill, and knowledge for improved care.