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Learn more about HHS’s Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
Health IT, Public Health PHIT Students Put Their Informatics Education to Use
David Su | March 27, 2023
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is one of 10 ONC Public Health Informatics & Technology (PHIT) Workforce Development Program awardees across the nation that are recruiting and training the next generation of diverse public health professionals in informatics and technology skills. With a goal of graduating 300 students/trainees of diverse backgrounds over the next four years, the PHIT Program at UCI aims to modernize the nation’s public health information infrastructure and address the issue of health disparities and inequities.
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Health IT Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Beyond Through Health IT Advancements: The Role of PDMPs
Donna Davidson | March 21, 2023
Combatting the opioid epidemic has long been an HHS priority, and the department provides resources and technical assistance to states, health care providers, and other interested parties to assist in their efforts to address the crisis. ONC helps address the opioid epidemic through its support for the adoption of health IT and promotion of nationwide health information exchange, including through opportunities created by prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). The significance of this work is evident,
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Information Blocking New Study Shows Patients Prefer Immediate Access to Test Results and have Unmet Information Needs
Jordan Everson | March 20, 2023
A recent study of 8,000 patients that accessed their test results via an online patient portal found that more than 95% wanted to continue to immediately receive test results through their portal. That percentage stayed at 95% when focused on patients with non-normal results.
These findings come amid concerns that the immediate release of test results could lead to patient distress when patients access test results before their physicians could contact them and help to interpret those results.
Interoperability Top Takeaways from the TEFCA Recognition Event
Elise Sweeney Anthony | March 13, 2023
It’s hard to convey the excitement that was in the HHS Great Hall during the TEFCA Recognition Event on February 13, 2023. It was great to see so many gather with HHS Secretary Becerra to recognize the six applicant organizations that have been approved for onboarding as Qualified Health Information Networks (QHIN)—CommonWell Health Alliance, eHealth Exchange, Epic TEFCA Interoperability Services, Health Gorilla, Kno2, and KONZA.
It was a special opportunity to acknowledge the benefits of public-private partnership and to hear first-hand just what this milestone event means for individuals across the country.
Health IT WowzaPalooza – A Post-Health Datapalooza 2023 Health IT Roundup
Steven Posnack | March 9, 2023
In case you missed it, Health Datapalooza happened toward the end of February. The aptly named conference always invokes a bit of fun while at the same time being a high octane mix of data scientists, policy makers, health care leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and patient advocates.
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