Health IT: In Depth

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Original Broadcast November 19, 2024

Presented by Maximus, eVisit & Carahsoft

Health IT: In Depth, is a program that gives viewers an in-depth look at how the federal government is advancing healthcare through cloud-based Health IT solutions. Industry leaders share insights on the latest innovations, the impact on government-industry partnerships, and the future of Health IT in the cloud. Health IT: In Depth, showcases the collaboration between federal agencies and private-sector partners to modernize patient care, boost data security, and improve access to electronic health records. 

Health IT Transformation: Inside the Journey to a Digital-First Health Record

Featuring:

• Bill Tinston, Director, Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization (FEHRM) office, DHA
• Kelley Harar, Vice President, Federal Health, Maximus

Bill Tinston and Kelley Harar, discuss the federal shift toward a unified electronic health record (EHR). The EHR, branded MHS Genesis, is used across departments like the Department of Defense (DoD), Veteran's Affairs (VA), Coast Guard, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), providing one standardized health record that follows patients across care facilities. Tinston emphasizes that this system aids in seamless clinical decision-making and benefits claims processing by capturing patient history, especially for veterans. Despite challenges in adoption due to workflow changes, Tinston notes that bringing experienced users to new facilities has improved the transition. Harar adds that creating a digital-first infrastructure fosters better patient outcomes and improves efficiency for healthcare providers. She shares the importance of user training for successful adoption, allowing the EHR to standardize processes while meeting individual healthcare needs. Both leaders agree that tracking metrics like provider satisfaction is crucial, as many clinicians face burnout, and improving their experience with innovations like AI-supported documentation and telehealth can make care more efficient. Overall, they argue, health IT transformation is a complex, iterative process that prioritizes better service delivery and patient outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

1. Unified Health Record System: The transition to a single, federal electronic health record (EHR) system across agencies (such as DoD and VA) enables consistent, coordinated care for 10 million patients. 

2. Enhanced Provider Efficiency and Patient-Centered Care: The new EHR standardizes workflows, which is critical in managing digital patient care while easing provider workload. 

3. Challenges in Adoption and Transformation: Transitioning from legacy systems requires significant cultural and operational adjustments, with challenges in provider adoption due to changes in workflows. 

Health IT: In Depth - Open Source and Interoperable Data in Federal and Private Sectors

Featuring:

• Andrea Fletcher, Chief Digital Strategy Officer and Director of the Digital Service, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Sachin Agrawal, CEO, eVisit 

Andrea Fletcher and Sachin Agrawal, share how open-source software and interoperable data systems are transforming the federal health IT landscape. Fletcher highlights CMS’s commitment to transparency and security through open-source code, which enables collaborative, efficient, and more secure software development. This approach has led CMS to open-source APIs like Blue Button 2.0, which grants equal access to Medicare data across private and public sectors, creating a collaborative health ecosystem. Agrawal emphasizes that true healthcare transformation hinges on data interoperability, which facilitates seamless care across the healthcare continuum and supports a more efficient digital infrastructure. Both speakers agreed that open-source platforms and transparency are essential for AI advancement within healthcare, as they help build public trust and ensure models reflect diverse healthcare needs. Additionally, Fletcher shares the role of programs like CMS’s bug bounties and vulnerability disclosure efforts with CISA as proactive cybersecurity measures. By engaging with the tech community, CMS aims to maintain the highest levels of security and adaptability across its digital services. Agrawal further notes that these shifts in software and data approaches are critical to addressing provider shortages and healthcare access issues, ensuring that both patients and providers benefit from a responsive, digitally-first system.

Key Takeaways:

1. Open Source in Health IT: Open-source technologies are enhancing flexibility and innovation in healthcare IT by allowing organizations to develop customizable solutions that improve data accessibility and integration.
   
   
2. Data Interoperability: Interoperable data solutions are critical for seamless data exchange across federal and private sectors, leading to more cohesive and effective patient care systems.
   
   
3. Collaboration in Health IT: Collaborative efforts between federal and private healthcare sectors are advancing the adoption of secure, open-source solutions that enhance data sharing while ensuring compliance and data security.

Health IT: In Depth - Revolutionizing Healthcare: A Bold New Era in Technology Policy

Featuring:

John Rancourt, Deputy Director; Office of Standards, Certification, and Analysis, at Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ATSP), HHS

John Rancourt, discussed the strategic shift in health IT to support technological innovation across healthcare. The new federal Health IT Strategic Plan, a collaborative effort involving over 25 agencies, emphasizes seamless data sharing, improved patient care, and promoting health across diverse networks. A critical focus is interoperability, exemplified by the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which allows secure, widespread data exchange. Additionally, Rancourt introduced the concept of a "nutrition label" for AI in health IT, aimed at providing clinicians transparency about AI tools' sources, intended uses, and limitations. This label aligns with HHS's approach to AI safety, ensuring that new technologies in healthcare are developed responsibly and equitably.

Key Takeaways:

1. Health IT Strategic Transformation: The HHS reorganization prioritizes technology innovation and collaboration to enhance health IT policy, focusing on better patient outcomes and comprehensive wellness initiatives.

2. Interoperability and Data Exchange: The Trusted Exchange Framework (TEFCA) initiative establishes a secure, national framework for data interoperability, enabling health data sharing across different health networks.

3. AI Transparency and Safety: A proposed “nutrition label” for AI in health IT offers transparency on AI tools, helping clinicians understand a tool’s purpose, safety, and any potential biases or limitations.