The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) operates within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leading federal efforts to advance health information technology. Its mission involves promoting and overseeing a national health IT infrastructure. A core goal is to coordinate nationwide efforts for the electronic exchange of health information across organizations. This involves establishing policies, guidelines, and technical frameworks for seamless data exchange among diverse healthcare systems.
The Need for Connected Health Data
Healthcare information often resides in disparate systems, fragmenting patient records across providers. This isolation, known as data silos, prevents easy exchange and hinders effective communication. Approximately 72% of U.S. healthcare providers face difficulties accessing complete patient data. This lack of a unified patient view can lead to significant issues, including missed diagnoses, incorrect treatments, and the duplication of medical tests.
Clinicians spend an estimated 45 minutes daily navigating multiple systems or contacting departments for missing information. These communication gaps slow workflows and can delay interventions important for patient safety. Incomplete patient profiles can cause providers to overlook details influencing diagnosis and treatment. The financial impact of these inefficiencies is substantial, with communication setbacks potentially costing a 500-bed hospital over $4 million annually.
How ONC Facilitates Data Sharing
ONC facilitates nationwide health information exchange through the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). This initiative stems from the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016, which mandated a trusted exchange framework and common agreement among national health information networks. TEFCA establishes a universal policy and technical foundation for nationwide interoperability. It defines common principles and practices for data sharing, and a legal agreement governing information exchange between networks.
Large health information networks become Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), serving as the backbone for connectivity. Certified under TEFCA, QHINs enable nationwide healthcare information exchange. These QHINs connect numerous health systems, federal care providers, public health agencies, and payers through shared rules. The Common Agreement, signed by each QHIN, outlines baseline legal and technical requirements for secure, consistent data exchange across networks.
Impact on Healthcare and Patients
Improved health information exchange benefits patients and healthcare providers. Patients experience better-coordinated care as their complete medical history follows them across care settings. This reduces the need for patients to repeatedly provide medical history, allowing more time for health discussions. Patients also gain easier access to their health records, fostering greater involvement in care decisions and enabling better self-management of chronic conditions.
For patients, reduced fragmented data improves safety by minimizing medication errors and avoiding unnecessary or duplicate tests. Access to a complete medication list helps doctors avoid prescribing drugs that might interact poorly with existing prescriptions. Providers benefit from a complete view of patient information, supporting better decision-making and more effective treatment plans. Streamlined workflows result from reduced time searching for data across multiple systems, allowing professionals to dedicate more time to direct patient care.