Tuesday, April 10, 2018

ONC releases guide to improve EHR utilization

HHS's Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has discharged an online guide for patients and caregivers to enhance the usage of patient portals and access to health information.

EHR Use and ONC Guide

The ONC Guide to Getting and Using your Health Records bolsters the 21st Century Cures Act in giving patients access to their electronic health information and the MyHealthData activity in giving patients control of their health information. The guide is additionally bolstered by CMS, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"It's critical that patients and their caregivers approach their own particular health information so they can settle on choices about their care and medicines," said Don Rucker, MD, the national coordinator for health information technology. "This guide will help answer a portion of the inquiries that patients may have when requesting their health information."

While usage of online health records expanded from 42 percent in 2014 to 50 percent in 2017, half of Americans who were offered access to their records did not see them due to an apparent absence of need. The guide intends to address the difficulties Americans look in getting to restorative records to enhance the positive observations, oversee health needs more helpfully, speak with suppliers and enhance self-administration and basic leadership.


EmoticonEmoticon