Time for a New Optimism

Readers of my blog know that over the past year, I've written several posts warning about the burden of 2014 certification, the  timing overlap of numerous federal programs including ICD10, and my observations that IT professionals/providers are at the breaking point.However, I have reasons to be optimistic and it's not just the approach of Spring.1.  There is a new national coordinator who is a great listenerI have every expectation that Karen DeSalvo will gather input from stakeholders and adjust the trajectory of national HIT policy within the limits of regulatory process constraints.  She understands the impact of the current federal programs and the challenges providers face getting through each day.  She knows there is a balance between appropriate regulation and over regulation.   She knows that cultural change, even driven with stimulus and urgency, requires incremental progress over time.   We've already seen a few timeline extensions (an extra year of Stage 2, extra time for hospitals and EPs to attest to 2013 reporting periods) and I expect more to come.2.  There is an opportunity to rethink certificationWith CCHIT's closure, delays in 2014 certified product availability, and significant stakeholder discussion about the certification process, all are aware of the need to revise certification.    I envision a day when ONC and its Federal Advisory Committees formulate policy goals for certification (i.e. quality improvemen...
Source: Life as a Healthcare CIO - Category: Technology Consultants Source Type: blogs