ONCHIT Releases New Strategic Plan

ONCHIT today released its strategic plan for 2008-2012. The full PDF file is here.

A few highlights: develop a privacy and security framework that reconciles inconsistent standards, “foster the business case” for the exchange of health information and encourage competition, encourage standard formats for freestanding PHR information, increase the number of EHRs that have clinical decision support, and develop standards for aggregating population health information.

Specific 2012 targets for physician practice EHR adoption: 40% overall, 12% for practices of five doctors and fewer.

More emphasis on CCHIT certification: “Specify that, to the extent permitted by law, certified EHRs and products are necessary components for any federally funded programs, pilots, and demonstrations that include the use of health IT.” A 2010 milestone is to have the majority of physician EHRs in use to be CCHIT certified.

ONCHIT will encourage health profession licensing bodies to include informatics criteria in their standards.