National Coordinator for Health IT Farzad Mostashari recently published a blog post offering his predictions for the health IT field in 2012, CMIO reports (Byers, CMIO, 1/27);
Mostashari wrote that 2012 will be "the year in which health IT truly comes of age." Outlining the five health IT-related trends he expects to develop this year, Mostashari predicted that:
- At least 100,000 health care providers will receive incentive payments through the meaningful use program (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 1/26);
- Health information exchange will become more widespread because of new Stage 2 meaningful use requirements (CMIO, 1/27);
- Health care providers increasingly will "see the direct connections between health IT, new payment models and the ways the former can help them succeed with the latter";
- Consumers increasingly will use tools such as personal health records and patient portals to become more involved in their care; and
- Innovation will lead to improved health IT systems (Goedert, Health Data Management, 1/26).
Mostashari added that ONC will continue to encourage the development of mobile applications "and other consumer-friendly platforms that get patients engaged." He added, "Once consumers start to see their own information, they will be more empowered to be partners in their own care and come to expect that providers will use health IT as a tool to help deliver high-quality care" (Bowman, FierceHealthIT, 1/27).