Question

Healthcare informatics.

Why was it necessary for the government to issue in 2004 a directive for implementing interoperable electronic health records by 2014?

Answer 1

In 2004, Executive Order 13335 called for the development and implementation of a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure to envision the president’s goal for the majority of Americans to have interoperable EHRs by 2014.

It was necessary because this order established the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with responsibility, among other things, for developing, main- taining, and directing the implementation of a strategic plan to guide the nationwide implementation of interoperable health IT in both the public and private healthcare sectors. Among its responsibilities as the chief advisor to the Secretary of HHS in this area, the Office of the National Coordinator reports progress on the implementation of this strategic plan.