ONC building task forces, seeking volunteers
When everyday people talk, does ONC listen? In the case of the office’s Health IT Standards Committee (HITSC), two officials say the answer is yes—and here’s how.
Jon White, MD, and Steve Posnack, respectively ONC’s deputy national coordinator and director of standards and technology, took to the ONC blog Health IT Buzz May 20 to explain how HITSC gets timely and effective public input.
Along with outlining the basics of the process, White and Posnack explained that, by the start of 2016, HITSC will have “a significant number” of new members to participate in workgroups making recommendations to ONC. Current standing workgroups will carry on through June and then sunset.
“In light of recent experiences, we believe that an HITSC with targeted, time-limited task forces will be a better way to get the expert and public feedback we need,” they wrote, adding that the structure of HITSC’s task forces will be modified to solicit input from a wider mix of stakeholders. “This operational change to a more nimble and adaptable structure will also help improve the representative focus that we always strive to achieve.”
White and Posnack invited interested stakeholders to volunteer for service on a HITSC task force. Click here to fill out an application and here to read the blog post.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.