Feds say we can achieve full interoperability in 10 years. Most providers say: Yeah, right.

Goal is outlined in ONC’s roadmap

Fewer than 20% of health care providers believe the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) can achieve nationwide interoperability in 10 years, according to a survey by document management company Scrypt.

The findings were part of poll of more than 700 providers on their opinions of interoperability and HIPAA guidelines.

Background on ONC’s goal

Earlier this year, ONC unveiled a draft roadmap to achieve basic electronic health data interoperability by 2017.

It outlines short- and long-term goals for the next 10 years, with 2017 set as the deadline by which “a majority of individuals and providers across the care continuum” should be able “to send, receive, find and use a common set of electronic clinical information.”

In addition, the document outlines 10 updated guiding principles for achieving nationwide interoperability over a 10-year period based on stakeholder feedback.

Survey findings

However, the new survey suggests that just 17% of providers are confident the health care industry will meet ONC’s 10-year interoperability goal.

Meanwhile, the survey also found that while 98% of respondents said their organizations have policies in place to keep staff updated about HIPAA compliance changes in their practice, staff or human error remains the largest concern among providers in terms of HIPAA breaches (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 8/11; Slabodkin, Health Data Management, 8/12; Scrypt release, 8/11).

Via The Advisory Board »