ONC plans to survey U.S. sentiment on HIE, privacy

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) plans to conduct a nationwide survey to assess the nation’s attitudes toward electronic health information exchange (HIE) and its associated privacy and security aspects.

“Electronic HIE promises an array of potential benefits for individuals and the U.S. healthcare system through improved healthcare quality, safety and efficiency. At the same time, this environment also poses new challenges and opportunities for protecting health information,” according to an announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services in the March 19 issue of the Federal Register.

HHS said the a survey will use computer-assisted telephone interviews to interview a representative sample of the general U.S. population over the course of eight weeks.

After analyzing the data and before the final report is published, the ONC will hold a webinar to “convey the findings to the general public,” according to the statement. The proposed information collection will assist ONC understand individual’s sentiments toward electronic HIE and as well as inform policy and programmatic objectives, according to the statement.

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