The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has released its updated federal health information technology (IT) strategic plan for 2015 through 2020. The four goals of the updated plan are to advance person-centered and self-managed health; transform healthcare delivery and community health; foster research, scientific knowledge, and innovation; and enhance the nation's health IT infrastructure. For each goal, the plan specifies related objectives and strategies. While continuing ONC's mission to expand health IT adoption, the revised plan focuses primarily on how systems, individuals, organizations, and communities will use the information that flows through them. The plan includes an expanded narrative to show the interdependencies of the various goals, objectives, and strategies and how the federal government will pursue approaches that aim to accomplish many interrelated purposes, rather than seeking progress in one area before addressing others. "Health IT only achieves its full potential when it seamlessly supports individuals as they strive to take control of their own health," states National Coordinator for Health IT Karen B. DeSalvo, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., in a September 21, 2015, HHS press release. "Implementing the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan over the next five years drives toward a public-private partnership to achieve interoperability and will help the nation achieve important health outcomes, while remaining flexible to the evolving nature of health care and technology."

HRC Recommends: Healthcare organizations may wish to review ONC's plan and consider how their own strategic goals, in regard to health IT specifically and the organization's direction more broadly, align with those outlined in the plan. Risk managers may consider how best to help the organization use health IT to achieve its goals while managing risks that may arise, such as those related to implementation, incentives and penalties, health information privacy and security, and clinical use.