In an interview with HealthLeaders Media, National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari detailed the challenges that the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT will face in 2012, as well as efforts to boost patient engagement and protect data privacy.
Challenges
Mostashari said ONC will face several challenges in 2012, including those related to:
- Promoting data exchange and interoperability;
- Helping health care providers demonstrate meaningful use; and
- Ensuring the privacy and security of health IT systems.
Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments.
Patient Engagement
Mostashari also discussed how health IT could help patients become more engaged in their care.
He said that some health care providers allow patients to play an active role in providing data for their EHR. In addition, some physicians encourage patients to use online portals to look up laboratory results.
Protecting Data Privacy
Mostashari noted that protecting the privacy and security of patient data is a "shared responsibility."
He said, "We're working with vendors to make sure they have the capabilities within certified electronic health records to do the encryption, to make sure there are audit trails that track who opens a file, and to make sure access is protected so that clerical workers don't have to see the clinical data to do their job" (Tocknell, HealthLeaders Media, 1/10).