In a significant development in oncology treatment and information sharing, major electronic health record (EHR) vendors have voluntarily committed to adopting the United States Core Data for Interoperability Plus Cancer (USCDI+ Cancer). This recommended minimum set includes crucial cancer-related data elements to be integrated into a patient’s EHR.
These vendors have also pledged their support for the necessary data elements required by a novel cancer care payment model developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Cancer Moonshot Initiative, initially launched in 2016 and revitalized in 2022, aims to lower costs and improve patient care outcomes for cancer patients, emphasizing the importance of EHRs embracing interoperability and new data standards.
According to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, in collaboration with various healthcare entities, EHR developers have voluntarily committed to incorporating data elements covering essential information about a person’s treatment history, disease status, and test results. This commitment is expected to enhance data sharing among healthcare providers.
The administration highlights that the adoption of these data elements by EHRs such as Oracle Health, Epic, Meditech, Flatiron, athenahealth, ThymeCare, Ontada, and CVS Health will improve care coordination, especially in rural and underserved areas. Standardizing data across EHRs also presents opportunities for accelerated research outcomes and more effective public health interventions.
The core data elements of the EOM (EHR Optimization for Maturity) also form the basis of USCDI+ Cancer, recommended for inclusion in a patient’s EHR. The administration encourages the entire healthcare ecosystem to support national health information exchange.
Former President Barack Obama, in 2016, emphasized the need to break down silos in health data and research with the launch of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative. He pointed out the limited access of cancer patients to their own data and the constrained access of community oncologists to cutting-edge research. Recent research indicates an increase in cancer patient participation in clinical research studies.
The shift towards Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)-based oncology data exchange through the EOM is anticipated to revolutionize oncology delivery. Jennifer Goldsack from the Digital Medicine Society emphasizes that achieving the goal of reducing cancer deaths is more feasible with the flow of data. She underscores the transformative potential of interoperability and heightened privacy and security measures in healthcare delivery.
Dr. Danielle Carnival, Deputy Assistant to the President for the Cancer Moonshot, commends the voluntary commitments of EHR developers, emphasizing that these actions are in support of clinicians and patients relying on these electronic health record systems. These commitments are seen as crucial steps toward providing enhanced treatment for individuals with cancer.
