Vindell Washington, MD, who was named ONC national coordinator in August, plans to continue the agency's investments in interoperability and technology like EHRs, despite concerns that physicians are overall dissatisfied with them, according to a Tech Target report.
Dr. Washington expects the technology to continue to improve, from EHR usability to clinical documentation, and maintains it benefits hospitals and patients, according to the report.
"We are probably still in an evolutionary phase when it comes to the ultimate usability of [EHRs]," Dr. Washington told Tech Target. "At the end of the day, keeping your eye on having improved patient outcomes and better patient care, the efficiencies, I believe, will follow."
Dr. Washington also said the ONC is working with CMS to ensure documentation serves to improve care and care coordination, rather than just the purpose of record keeping. Additionally, he voiced support for emerging technologies like blockchain, and said the ONC has received a number of proposals to pursue such technology for information sharing and patient data security.