Advances on several fronts
The biggest health IT news this week occurred during the Health IT Policy Committee as the group endorsed recommendations for Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 3, accountable care, a Health IT Safety Center and more.
The committee endorsed package of MU Stage 3 recommendations governing quality measures that includes an “innovative pathway” giving eligible professionals and hospitals more flexibility in achieving compliance.
The Quality Measures Workgroup had previously obtained approval for MU Stage 3 policy recommendations in January, but the HITPC had asked the workgroup to also draft recommendations about specific MU Stage 3 measures.
The recommendations signal a broader move from process toward outcomes measures, said workgroup co-chair Terry Cullen, MD, director of informatics at the Veterans Health Administration. “The assumption is that providers have implemented the baseline infrastructure for Meaningful Use 1 and Meaningful Use 2 measurements, and we want to promote more forward thinking options in Stage 3.”
The committee also advanced recommendations regarding a new Health IT Safety Center which should serve as a central point for a learning environment, complement existing systems, facilitate reporting and promote transparent sharing of information regarding patient safety, according to the findings of the HIT Safety Task Force.
David Bates, chair of the task force, recommended a public-private governance structure for the center, which should sit outside of government but be resourced at least in part by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The center also needs to avoid duplication of existing activities. The center needs clearly defined missions with related priorities and should include both institutional and individual members. Its agenda should be driven by frontline provider concerns, he said.
The center also should serve four key functions: engagement; analysis; convening; and education and dissemination.
The Health IT Policy Committee seems to be working as hard as health IT leadership across the country. Do you agree with their recommendations?
Beth Walsh
Clinical Innovation + Technology editor
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.