scholarly journals Opportunities for the use of health information technology to support research

JAMIA Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-325
Author(s):  
Teresa Zayas-Cabán ◽  
Jonathan S Wald

Abstract In the last decade, expanding use of health information technology (IT) across the United States has created opportunities for use of electronic health data for health services and biomedical research, but efforts may be hampered by limited data access, data quality, and system functionality. We identify five opportunities to advance the use of health IT for health services and biomedical research, which informed a federal government-led, collaborative effort to develop a relevant policy and development agenda. In particular, the health IT infrastructure should more effectively support the use of electronic health data for research; provide adaptable technologies; incorporate relevant research-related functionality; support patient and caregiver engagement in research; and support effective integration of knowledge into practice. While not exhaustive, these represent important opportunities that the biomedical and health informatics communities can pursue to better leverage health IT and electronic health data for research.

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 652-657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Zayas-Cabán ◽  
Kevin J Chaney ◽  
Donald W Rucker

Abstract The growth of digitized health data presents exciting opportunities to leverage the health information technology (IT) infrastructure for advancing biomedical and health services research. However, challenges impede use of those resources effectively and at scale to improve outcomes. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) led a collaborative effort to identify challenges, priorities, and actions to leverage health IT and electronic health data for research. Specifically, ONC led a review of relevant literature and programs, key informant interviews, and a stakeholder workshop to identify electronic health data and health IT infrastructure gaps. This effort resulted in the National Health IT Priorities for Research: A Policy and Development Agenda, which articulates an optimized health information ecosystem for scientific discovery. This article outlines 9 priorities and recommended actions to be implemented in collaboration with the research and informatics communities for realizing this vision.


2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Fox Brent ◽  
G. Felkey Bill

As the new year begins, we like to reflect on where health information technology (IT) has been and where it is going. We are not fond of rehashing the minutia regarding every event that occurred in the health IT domain, so we will not spend our time and space presenting an exhaustive review. We will, however, touch on the continuing efforts surrounding electronic health records (EHRs). We will also focus forward in discussing an emerging area that we are closely following.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 647-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Zayas-Cabán ◽  
Amy P Abernethy ◽  
Patricia Flatley Brennan ◽  
Stephanie Devaney ◽  
Anthony R Kerlavage ◽  
...  

Abstract Ensuring that federally funded health research keeps pace with the explosion of health data depends on better information technology (IT), access to high-quality electronic health data, and supportive policies. Because it prominently funds and conducts health research, the U.S. federal government needs health IT to rapidly evolve and has the ability to drive that evolution. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology developed the National Health IT Priorities for Research: A Policy and Development Agenda (the Agenda) that identifies health IT priorities for research in consultation with relevant federal agencies. This article describes support for the Agenda from the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and the Veterans Health Administration. Advancing the Agenda will benefit these agencies and support their missions as well as the entire ecosystem leveraging the health IT infrastructure or using data from health IT systems for research.


2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 815-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua E Richardson ◽  
Joshua R Vest ◽  
Cori M Green ◽  
Lisa M Kern ◽  
Rainu Kaushal ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective We investigated ways that patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) are currently using health information technology (IT) for care coordination and what types of health IT are needed to improve care coordination. Materials and Methods A multi-disciplinary team of researchers conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 28 participants from 3 PCMHs in the United States. Participants included administrators and clinicians from PCMHs, electronic health record (EHR) and health information exchange (HIE) representatives, and policy makers. Results Participants identified multiple barriers to care coordination using current health IT tools. We identified five areas in which health IT can improve care coordination in PCMHs: 1) monitoring patient populations, 2) notifying clinicians and other staff when specific patients move across care settings, 3) collaborating around patients, 4) reporting activities, and 5) interoperability. To accomplish these tasks, many participants described using homegrown care coordination systems separate from EHRs. Discussion The participants in this study have resources, experience, and expertise with using health IT for care coordination, yet they still identified multiple areas for improvement. We hypothesize that focusing health IT development in the five areas we identified can enable more effective care coordination. Key findings from this work are that homegrown systems apart from EHRs are currently used to support care coordination and, also, that reporting tools are key components of care coordination. Conclusions New health IT that enables monitoring, notifying, collaborating, reporting, and interoperability would enhance care coordination within PCMHs beyond what current health IT enables.


2012 ◽  
pp. 382-395
Author(s):  
Michelle Lee D’Abundo

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act (2009) was legislation passed focused on improving health care delivery and patient care in America through the development of health information technology (HIT). The mission of this chapter is to review how American health care practitioners and organizations will integrate one aspect of HIT, the use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), into the workplace. While objectives and deadlines have been established and aligned with incentives for the meaningful use of EHRs, it seems the missing component is a strategic plan that could be applied by health care organizations to guide the implementation process. The use of a program planning model is suggested to frame a strategic implementation process informed by principles of change management.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (S2) ◽  
pp. 121-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deven McGraw

In discussions of health reform, the increased use of health information technology (health IT) is a common element of nearly every serious proposal on the table. Health IT includes electronic health records kept by providers, personal health records offered by health insurance plans or owned by consumers, and electronic health information exchanges. Although health reform initiatives being discussed contain little detail regarding health IT, in general they promote health IT to facilitate the electronic sharing of health information to improve individual and population health. During the 2008 presidential campaign, the health care proposals of both President Obama and Senator McCain discussed health IT. President Obama’s proposal invests $50 billion over the next five years to promote the adoption of health IT with privacy safeguards. Senator McCain’s plan also encouraged the adoption of health IT, with an emphasis on coordination.


Author(s):  
Michelle Lee D’Abundo

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act (2009) was legislation passed focused on improving health care delivery and patient care in America through the development of health information technology (HIT). The mission of this chapter is to review how American health care practitioners and organizations will integrate one aspect of HIT, the use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), into the workplace. While objectives and deadlines have been established and aligned with incentives for the meaningful use of EHRs, it seems the missing component is a strategic plan that could be applied by health care organizations to guide the implementation process. The use of a program planning model is suggested to frame a strategic implementation process informed by principles of change management.


2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 177-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Denham ◽  
David C. Classen ◽  
Stephen J. Swenson ◽  
Michael J. Henderson ◽  
Thomas Zeltner ◽  
...  

Medical Care ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Ju Hsiao ◽  
Jennifer King ◽  
Esther Hing ◽  
Alan E. Simon

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