HITPC realigns workgroups

During the July 8 Health IT Policy Committee meeting, Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, national coordinator of health IT, outlined the adjustments made to the committee’s various workgroups.

Because some workgroups were completing their work, DeSalvo said there was an opportunity to “sunset some workgroups and bundle the efforts of others.” The six remaining workgroups include the following:

• Health IT Strategy and Innovation – David Lansky, chair

DeSalvo said this group will “look beyond the forest” in future efforts and its work will be very important this fall as the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT crafts its federal strategic plan and outlines strategic priorities

• Advanced health models and Meaningful Use – Paul Tang, chair; Joe Kimura, co-chair

DeSalvo said this group will focus on care model development, accountable care, social determinants and community- and population-level health.

• Health IT implementation, usability and safety – David Bates, chair; Larry Wolf, co-chair
• Interoperability and health information exchange – Mickey Tripathi, chair; Chris Lehmann, co-chair
• Privacy and security – Deven McGraw, chair
• Consumer perspective and engagement – Christine Bechtal, chair

The last two groups are still seeking co-chairs.

The realignment of workgroups is “an interative process,” said DeSalvo, “as we close out work and pick up new work.” While the interoperability and health information exchange workgroup has already started their work, their focus going forward will be formalized in the fall.

DeSalvo also noted the effort to have a balanced perspective serving on the workgroups. “We want to be inclusive and thoughtful about this really important work.”