The Department of Health and Human Services is ramping up efforts to help expand the use of health care information technology among providers.

HHS Aug. 7 released a new comprehensive health care information technology strategy to encourage providers to routinely exchange health information through interoperable systems in support care coordination across health care settings.

The department in a strategy paper said it identified the need for a set of principles to guide a comprehensive effort across HHS agencies to accelerate the use of health IT.  The principles are accelerating the development and use of health information technology;  advancing standards and interoperability; and consumer/patient engagement.

For example, HHS said it will seek to ensure that all new regulations and guidance on existing IT program enable a patient’s health information to follow them wherever they access care to support patient-centered care delivery. The department also said it would align IT standards for quality measurement and improvement across the Medicare and Medicaid programs

The new strategy is available at http://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/acceleratinghieprinciples_strategy.pdf