Office of the National Coordinator (ONC)

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True Interoperability: Public API’s Provide the Open Platform Health IT Requires

Do we finally have the spark? Interoperability is the current health IT buzzword because it’s the essential ingredient in creating a system that benefits patients, doctors and hospitals. Almost everyone in healthcare is pressing for it and is frustrated, though probably not surprised, that Meaningful Use did not get us there. Read More »

US Core Data for Interoperability Task Force Delivers its Recommendations

On April 18, 2018 the HHS Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) US Core Data for Interoperability Task Force delivered its recommendations on the draft US Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) and Proposed Expansion Process which had been published for public comment back in January 2018. HITAC promptly accepted the Task Force’s recommendations. The Task Force focused almost exclusively on the process for identifying the USCDI rather than the proposed USCDI data itself. I especially appreciated their introduction of some key concepts related to how USCDI should be organized and understood.

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VistA EHR Community and OSEHRA Experiences Extraordinary Growth in 2014

We have recorded a robust year of growth during 2014 and have laid a solid foundation for market expansion in 2015. OSEHRA corporate membership doubled during 2014. Corporate Members include large, medium and small corporations, nonprofits, academic institutions and international organizations that are leaders in health information technology...our primary open source electronic health record product, VistA, was rated by a MedScape survey as the most preferred EHR by physician users again in 2014. Further, our corporate members collaborate on policy, marketing, education and software initiatives. We expect the business opportunities for corporate members to grow considerably next year as the marketplace for open source health IT continues to expand. Read More »

What To Remember When EHR Replacement Meets Meaningful Use

Jennifer Bresnick | EHR Intelligence | April 7, 2014

If you’re thinking about EHR replacement, chances are you’re also looking for a way to optimize and streamline your participation in the EHR Incentive Programs as the industry approaches Stage 2 of Meaningful Use.  There are innumerable tasks to keep in mind when switching one system for the next, including data migration, workflow adjustments, testing and support, and the potential for hurt feelings and confusion among the staff.

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Why Developers Should Enter Health IT Contests

Fred Trotter | O'Reilly Radar | November 4, 2011

Patient safety is a movement within healthcare to reduce medical errors. Medical errors are a substantial problem in the healthcare industry, with a size and scope similar to car accidents: approximately the same number of deaths per year, about the same number of serious injuries. Personally I think working in patient safety is the simplest way for a geek to make a meaningful difference. Read More »

Why Your Organization Can’t Afford To Skimp On Interoperability Anymore

Lisa Khorey | Becker's Health IT & CIO Review | August 3, 2015

Interoperability is a key enabler for providers and payers to deliver on the promise of health care reform. Despite increased adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs), only a fraction of providers can demonstrate the routine ability to exchange data efficiently, prompting public criticism of the application software vendors as a barrier to achieving interoperability objectives. Recognizing that interoperability is essential, the Office of the National Coordinator released an interoperability road map intended to drive the market toward a common data set for easier data exchange.

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