Background:
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is charged with nationwide efforts to implement advanced technologies within the health care system to promote electronic exchange of health information. The National Coordinator’s office leads, guides, and assists providers, patients, and health IT professionals in implementing Meaningful Use of electronic health records (EHRs) instead of paper medical records to maintain an individual’s health information. EHRs are becoming a vital part of the healthcare system providing patients and clinicians access to critical health records necessary for safe and effective health care delivery.
The Office of Standards and Interoperability (OSI) within ONC is charged with supporting the development of health IT standards and enabling interoperability across health IT systems. The OSI operates multiple initiatives to promote Health IT interoperability using the Standards and Interoperability (S&I) Framework. Some of these initiatives include Transitions of Care, Healthcare Directories, Data Segmentation for Privacy, Lab Results Interface, QueryHealth, and Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (esMD), co-sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Our Engagement:
ESAC, Inc. is supporting the mission of Health IT at ONC at multiple levels to:
- Provide project and program management support for S&I Initiatives.
- Support the government in attending the Federal Advisory Committee of Standards meetings.
- Support the development of tools for standards development.
- Provide Standards Subject Matter Experts on as needed basis to provide expert consultations to the ONC.
Outcome:
ESAC, Inc. has provided successful project management and administration expertise for various S&I initiatves, including Data Segmentation for Privacy, Query Health, and esMD. ESAC, Inc. supported the projects in the S&I mission with a highly qualified and focused team spread across multiple initiatives but with the singular vision of enabling the client to attain their goals. Working with CEOs, Principals, and healthcare industry experts appointed by ONC, the ESAC, Inc. team strategically coordinated a multi-contractor and multi-disciplinary team while engaging a nation-wide community of experts and stakeholders in the various issues surrounding standards and interoperability associated with EHRs. Each management team has successfully worked through development of business rules and use cases, harmonization of standards, implementation, and pilots support for each of the various initiatives ESAC, Inc. has supported, and continues to support new initiatives as they are established.
Other Projects:
