The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), Office of the National Coordinator (“ONC”) has published two free online playbooks to assist healthcare providers navigate healthcare information technology (“IT”).

Health IT Playbook. The Health IT Playbook (1) educates healthcare providers about the key features of healthcare IT and (2) provides advice on effectively using healthcare IT with vendors and other healthcare providers. This playbook guides providers through the following questions:

• How do I choose, implement, or upgrade an electronic health record (“EHR”) system?
• How do I redesign workflows to improve and optimize practice efficiency and effectiveness?
• How can I connect and share information with other providers and public health officials?
• How can I activate and engage patients as well as their families?
• How do I learn more about improving patient outcomes and prepare for new quality payment programs?
• How do I protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal health information in my EHR system?

The Office of the Nat’l Coordinator for Health Info. Tech., Introduction to the Health IT Playbook in HEALTH IT PLAYBOOK. In addition to discussing the topics raised by the foregoing questions, ONC includes tools—such as a worksheet of questions to assist in comparing vendors—and links to relevant fact sheets and regulations created by various federal agencies.

Patient Engagement Playbook. The Patient Engagement Playbook educates healthcare providers, practice administrators, and practice staff about using the patient portal features of EHRs and encouraging patients to do the same. This playbook suggests how different members of a practice can engage with patients about specific features of a patient portal.

Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. Both playbooks are especially useful to healthcare providers, because the playbooks integrate information about how specific types of technology can help providers (1) meet advancing care information measures under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (“MACRA”) and (2) take advantage of federal funds available for using certain types of healthcare IT.

Action Steps

• Read the Health IT Playbook and the Patient Engagement Playbook to learn more about EHR systems, certified health IT, patient portals, and various related topics.
• Consider reviewing certain topics in staff meetings to ensure your organization is getting the most out of its healthcare IT, especially patient portals.
• Consider if your organization current use of healthcare IT will allow it to meet MACRA’s advancing care information requirements. If the organization’s current use does not met this requirement, make a plan to do so.