General Information
The Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) was established in 2011 as is part of the Oregon Health Authority. OHIT's work focuses on supporting the adoption of electronic health records, the secure exchange of health information, and achievement of meaningful use in the state.
Through collaboration and partnerships, OHIT seeks to increase the use of health information technology (HIT) across Oregon's health care community. Stakeholder engagement has led to a vision for Oregon of a transformed health system where health information technology and exchange efforts are foundational.
OHIT worked closely with the Health IT Oversight Council (HITOC), the Oregon Health Leadership Council, Oregon's coordinated care organizations and other key stakeholders to identify priorities and next steps for the state's HIT efforts. A coordinated statewide HIT approach centers on ensuring that the right information is available to the right people at the right time so Oregonians experience better health and better care at lower costs.
OHIT's work toward this seeks to leverage efforts already underway, connect to existing resources when possible, and support the development of services that fill gaps in areas where no other HIT options exist.
Our Vision
A transformed health system where statewide health information technology and health information exchange efforts ensure that all Oregonians have access to HIT-optimized health care that results in better health, better care, and lower costs.
Oregon is changing the way health care is delivered and health information technology is a fundamental component.
Oregon's efforts are founded on the coordinated care model, which sets new expectations for coordinating care, accountability for performance, and alternative models of payment based on outcomes and health. Through the coordinated care model, Oregonians are experiencing improved, more integrated care.
Optimization of the health care system through health Information technology is an important part of this work. HIT-optimized health care goes beyond adopting electronic or mobile technologies in place of keeping records on paper. It includes changes in workflow, analytics, and processes that help doctors, nurses, mental health professionals and all other health care providers to work more effectively. Using health information exchange (HIE) allows hospitals, clinics and individual providers to share the right health-related information quickly.
HIT-optimized health care will allow providers, patients and their families, and systems to access the information they need, in a secure and efficient way, to help in the treatment and care management of all Oregonians.
Our Goals
We are working with providers, health plans, CCOs and patient advocates to support the HIT goals for a health care system where:
- Providers have access to meaningful, timely, relevant and actionable patient information at the point of care. Information is complete and about the whole person – including physical, behavioral, social and other needs
- Systems (Health plans, CCOs, health systems and providers) have the ability to effectively and efficiently collect and use aggregated clinical data for quality improvement, better manage the health of populations and incentivizing wellness and prevention.
- Policy makers have reliable data and metrics to inform policy and provide transparency.
- Individuals and their families have access to their clinical information and are able to use it as a tool to improve their health and engage with their providers.