It's been a busy year in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and for health IT in general.

"It's been a whirlwind of activity. Many of you have spent many sleepless nights...dealing with all the things we have worked at. It's easy to forget how much we've accomplished," Blumenthal said during an ONC update last week, CMIO reports. "The 'meaningful use' framework is unprecedented in the history of electronic health information systems....We've started that process; it will evolve."

Blumenthal highlighted all his office has accomplished in the 20 months he's had the top job: setting up an EHR standards and certification program that now has five authorized testing bodies; establishing regional extension centers to help physicians and small hospitals adopt EHRs; funding 17 Beacon Communities "trying to pave the way toward a new level of performance in local communities, where health information exchange happens," as Blumenthal explains; and approving 20 state-level implementation plans to date.

Plus, Blumenthal said, 2,400 people have been enrolled in community health IT workforce training programs. "We're well on the way to meeting our 10,000 [enrollment] target during the lifetime of program," the coordinator said.

He also framed health IT in the context of healthcare reform. "Without successful [health IT initiatives] there will be no success for healthcare reform," Blumenthal reportedly said.

He added: "The ability to use information is a core competence of health professionals. As a result, I think the uses of information technology, as the most modern and effective way of managing information, will be integrated into certifying tests [and] standards that medical professionals hold themselves to.

"When that happens, the tipping point will have been reached, and healthcare professionals will lead this revolution."

For additional details:
- check out this CMIO story
- read this year-end message from Blumenthal

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