10/11/2011
The recently released Federal Health IT Strategic Plan outlines the federal government's goals for using health IT to improve health care over the next five years. The plan incorporates policy priorities included in the HITECH Act and the health reform law. by Helen R. Pfister and Susan R. Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions
09/29/2011
As efforts to get consumers actively involved in health IT mature, the focus at the Fifth Annual Health 2.0 Conference in San Francisco showed an evolutionary shift away from getting the conversation started and toward deciding what to talk about. by George Lauer, iHealthBeat Contributing Editor
09/06/2011
Federally funded health IT training programs have begun churning out graduates to help address the country's health IT workforce shortage. Despite the demand for skilled health IT professionals, some graduates say they have been unable to find a job. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Managing Editor
08/22/2011
The privacy and security "Tiger Team" has been prolific in its issuance of recommendations on everything from patient consent to authentication. The group's recommendations are likely to factor strongly into the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT's privacy- and security-related policymaking. by Helen Pfister and Susan Ingargiola, Manatt Health Solutions
04/25/2011
Farzad Mostashari spoke with iHealthBeat about his priorities as the newly appointed national coordinator for health IT. He discussed the need to share best practices, the opportunities for engaging patients and the balancing act required in Stage 2 of the meaningful use program. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
04/14/2011
The appointment of Farzad Mostashari as the new national coordinator for health IT has drawn widespread praise from the health care industry. Stakeholders say Mostashari has the necessary chops to advance health IT adoption, but they acknowledge that the country's new health IT chief has his work cut out for him. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
02/24/2011
At the HIMSS conference on Wednesday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal and U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin discussed the importance of health IT and what the Obama administration plans to do to drive adoption. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
02/23/2011
At this week's HIMSS conference, officials from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT discussed how the office will continue its work after David Blumenthal steps down. Meanwhile, the creators of popular satirical health IT websites are finally revealed. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
02/22/2011
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said health IT is a key part of the solution to the country's economic troubles. Meanwhile, a new survey finds that many health care leaders see meaningful use as a top priority. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
02/07/2011
National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal will leave his post this spring, a new House bill would eliminate meaningful use incentive program funding and a federal judge invalidated the health reform law, which includes several health IT-related provisions. What does it all mean for health IT efforts? by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
01/14/2011
Now that the final rule establishing the permanent certification program for health IT has been released, organizations must decide what kind of role they want to play under the new program. ONC officials say they are confident that they will be ready to transition to the permanent certification program on Jan. 1, 2012. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
01/03/2011
After a marathon year of implementing health IT-related programs and policies, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal spoke with iHealthBeat about his office's accomplishments and the challenges that lie ahead. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
03/30/2010
In a recent interview with iHealthBeat, National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal discussed the timeline for issuing final rules related to the federal stimulus package, as well as the new health IT certification process and the chances of meeting President Obama's goal to provide all Americans with an EHR by 2014. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Senior Editor
03/04/2010
National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal discussed recently released health IT regulations and said his office's focus now would shift to implementation. Meanwhile, U.S. CTO Aneesh Chopra spoke about innovation, and AHRQ's Jon White discussed health IT research. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat editor
03/03/2010
A surprise announcement by National Coordinator for Health IT David Blumenthal that the long-awaited proposed rule on the electronic health record certification process had been released was the big news of the second day of the HIMSS conference. by Kate Ackerman, iHealthBeat Editor