Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT)

Definition - What does Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) mean?

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) is a division of the Office of the Secretary under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is devoted to the implementation of health information technology and facilitating the exchange of electronic health information. The use of electronic health records (EMR) was enacted through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and ONCHIT supports IT health requirements for the nationwide shift from paper to electronic medical records. ONCHIT is also charged with the promotion, assistance and governance of the health information exchange (HIE) process as it pertains to protected health information.

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Techopedia explains Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT)

It is ONCHIT's duty to coordinate and oversee the nationwide adoption of EMRs while providing guidance for the electronic exchange of health information.

Because the implementation of electronic heath records will require IT professionals, ONCHIT has developed a program of assistance for university-based training, and ARRA has dispersed nationwide grants to state universities and community colleges in order to help meet the need the implementation of health information exchange is expected to create.