In response to public comments, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has adjusted its objectives for empowering individuals to improve their health and the health care system through health IT, Health Data Managementreports.
Jodi Daniel, director of ONC’s Office of Policy and Planning, posted an entry on ONC’s “Health IT Buzz” blog outlining changes to the consumer empowerment objectives (Goedert, Health Data Management, 11/22).
In the blog entry, Daniel lists the initial versions of the objectives and describes the reasoning behind revisions. The revised objectives call for ONC to:
Engage consumers with health IT;
Accelerate consumers’ and caregivers’ access to their electronic health data in a reusable format;
Encourage innovation in capturing and using consumer health data; and
Integrate consumer health information and health IT with clinical applications to support patient-centered care.
Daniel also noted that ONC is considering using the word “individual” instead of “consumer” in the objectives. She said ONC is seeking public comment on the idea (Daniel, “Health IT Buzz,” ONC, 11/19).
