2013: Implementation Front and Center

As I write this, the March Health IT Policy Committee meeting was just held, during which time Farzard Mostashari, MD, ScM, national coordinator of health IT, and several other speakers reiterated the message from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: 2013 is the year of implementation. Mostashari made it clear that there would be no rule-making with regards to Meaningful Use Stage 3 this year, so everyone can focus on succeeding with Stage 2.

The major takeaway messages at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s 2013 annual convention certainly centered around Stage 2. From Meaningful Use and health information exchange to interoperability and patient engagement, provider organizations across the U.S. shared their experiences—some good, some not so good—in working toward a better healthcare delivery system. Check out page 7 for some memorable quotes from the meeting.

As we’ve recently heard, the patient is “the next blockbuster drug.” Increasing patient involvement, and thus action, in their own care can only help improve outcomes. Learn about a pilot study at Geisinger Health System and Kaiser Permanente’s online patient portal on page 16.

I spoke with representatives from several of the 17 Beacon communities selected back in 2010 for three-year grants. See the article on page 8 for more on efforts to improve upon information exchange, care coordination and other accomplishments that these communities might not have achieved without Beacon funding.

Speaking of these efforts, healthcare organizations obviously need people to carry out the varying, numerous and challenging IT requirements. But where to find good talent in this shortage of qualified, experienced health IT workers? Our article on page 22 details how colleges and facilities are working to educate these valuable and desperately needed professionals for varied healthcare facilities.

Best wishes to you and yours as you continue to focus on implementation in all of its many forms.