Health Information Technology (HIT)

Health Information Technology (HIT) supports care coordination between providers and is an essential piece of primary and behavioral health integration. Below is information and resources on HIT related topics including Electronic Health Records and Health Information Exchanges. Check back frequently for new website postings. If you have recommended resources, please email them to Thea Browning at theab@thenationalcouncil.org.

HIT Resources

Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program FINAL Rule

EHR Incentive Programs, Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health IT Toolbox

HIT acronym guide

Information on e-prescribing

Meaningful Use
Meaningful Use Medicaid Registration 

Meaningful Use State Launch Dates

Meaningful Use Summary  

National Association of Community Health Centers has compiled the following HIT resources on their website:
• HIT – A Primer PowerPoint Presentation
• Definitions
• ONC Workforce Competencies by Role
• Tools 

Regional Extension Centers, Office of the National Coordinator for HIT
 
SAMHSA Strategic Initiative #6:
Health Information Technology, Electronic Health Records and Behavioral Health

State Health Information Exchanges

American College of Physicians
This website contains comparisons of Electronic Health Records and is operated by the American College of Physicians. The reviews of systems are given by actual users of the technology and is an excellent beginning resource.

Behavioral Health Launches HIE
While mental health providers debate whether electronic health records will interfere with the patient-therapist relationship and if health information exchange will compromise patient confidentiality, an Arizona behavioral health company has launched a Web portal to share information with its care partners. "We think it might be the first HIE for behavioral health," says Justin Bayless, president of Bayless Behavioral Health Solutions. Axxess Unlimited built the portal, dubbed Clear Care, to facilitate two-way, secure data exchange between Bayless BHS and its partners.  Click here to read the complete article and find out more about using Clear Care. 

Health Information Technology and Small Physician Practices
A Research Brief from the nonprofit National Institute for Health Care Reform (NIHCR) highlights lessons learned from networks of small medical practices on overcoming barriers to HIT adoption and use.

How Electronic Health Records Enable Care Coordination
Centering on the Patient: How Electronic Health Records Enable Care Coordination a new care coordination report, is now available for download after registering. Click here to read.

ONC Workforce Program
The purpose of the Curriculum Development Centers Program, a part of the ONC Workforce Program, is to provide funding to institutions of higher education to support health information technology curriculum development. Click here to see the Curriculum Development Awardees. 

Phase II of the Health Information Exchange
eHealthInitiative is proud to release Phase II of the Health Information Exchange (HIE) Toolkit. This “primer” addresses the next steps needed for starting an HIE: creating a sustainable model, building technical aspects of connectivity, marketing and promoting of HIEs, enhancing services, and tracking progress. For more information on the Toolkit click here.