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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.

OHA's Office of Health IT is leading collaborative efforts to establish an electronic health information network, making it possible for health care organization to securely share patient information both within the state and nationally.

Oregon's approach builds on efforts already underway in local communities. Many of Oregon's health systems are already working within their own organizations toward providing care that has been optimized by Health Information Technology. However, many providers and areas of the state have not progressed as far.

To successfully meet the state's common goals and fill the gaps, OHIT focuses its work on:

Supporting community and organizational efforts

  • Promoting the adoption of health information technology
    • electronic health record (EHR) adoption and provider's ability to use electronic health records in meaningful ways
    • interoperability and statewide health information sharing
  • Providing guidance, information, and assistance
  • Monitoring the changing state and federal health IT environment
  • Convening stakeholders to inform state HIT efforts, share best practices and identify challenges (HITOC)

Standardizing and aligning efforts for statewide services

  • Adopt standards for organizations using state HIT services to ensure safety, privacy, security, and interoperability
  • Align state clinical metrics and reporting requirements

Providing or enabling new state-level services

  • Services for sharing health information to support care coordination
  • Foundational HIT services to support HIE and organizations using aggregated health data
  • Medicaid-focused services
    • Technical Assistance with EHRs and meaningful use for Medicaid practices