California’s Commitment To Equity and Whole-Person Care With The Data Exchange Framework
As Dr. Mark Ghaly departs as Secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS), he reflects on the tremendous effort and progress of the DxF since going into effect in January 2024. While more work is still needed to ensure full compliance and successful implementation, Secretary Ghaly highlights the transformative impacts of sharing health and social service information to disrupt inequities and create an integrated system of care. (Healthcare Dive, 9/12)
ASTP/ONC 2024 LEAP in Health IT Grant Awardees
The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) announced the grant awardees for the Leading Edge Acceleration Projects in Health IT (LEAP in Health IT), which seek to advance artificial intelligence (AI) data quality and health IT adoption in behavioral health. Columbia University will use the grant to improve data documentation from hospital nurses using AI and Oregon Health & Science University will investigate adapting FHIR for three behavioral health use cases. (ASTP/ONC, 9/17)
Epic And Oracle Health Improve VA Interoperability
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now has the ability to connect to Epic and Oracle Health electronic health records (EHRs) through open application programming interfaces (APIs), allowing health care providers to view information for veterans receiving care outside of VA facilities. This significant step forward in improving data sharing with the VA as part of a pledge among 13 health systems to identify veterans receiving private care, connect them with resources, and coordinate care for shared patients. (Healthcare IT News, 9/19)
JAMA Study Examines Physician Satisfaction With AI Documentation Tools
A recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) highlights AI-powered documentation tools to reduce physician burnout, optimize workflows, and increase accuracy of clinical documentation. The study found approximately half of clinicians using AI tools reported a positive experience but they did not improve EHR experience or save time for many, illustrating AI’s potential to alleviate physician burnout while needing to further examine clinician impact. (JAMA, 9/6)
