The Health & Human Services Department will set up a panel of experts to identify and fix any "potentially harmful unintended consequences" of its push to get physicians and hospitals equipped with electronic health records over the next several years.
In announcing a contract to set up the group, HHS acknowledged the plan to offer providers financial incentives to adopt health IT was meant to "enormously improve the quality and efficiency of health."
"But good intentions are often not enough," the notice said. "This contract honors the ancient injunction to physicians, "˜First, do no harm.'"
Providers are staring to consider how they will participate in the incentive programs set up by HHS's Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) to accelerate adoption of EHRs. The notice said it would be prudent for HHS to be on the lookout for problems that might crop in carrying out the plan.
"While we expect for these programs to help achieve the many desirable outcomes envisioned by Congress," the notice said, "a sense of responsibility for activities we support, historical experience, as well as mounting evidence of unexpected problems, demand that we consider potential downsides," the notice said.
HHS did not provide any examples or details about risky outcomes, and acknowledged some unforeseen results of the plan even could have a positive impact.
"By 'unintended consequences' we mean outcomes that are not intended, even though, upon investigation and reflection, they are, at least in part, a natural consequence of the activities. While some unintended consequences are desirable, the purpose of this contract is to identify and address those that are undesirable and potentially harmful."
Responses to the notice, posted on the Federal Business Opportunities web site, are due Feb. 26.
The Health & Human Services Department will set up a panel of experts to identify and fix any "potentially harmful unintended consequences" of its push to get physicians and hospitals equipped with electronic health records over the next several years.
In announcing a contract to set up the group, HHS acknowledged the plan to offer providers financial incentives to adopt health IT was meant to "enormously improve the quality and efficiency of health."
"But good intentions are often not enough," the notice said. "This contract honors the ancient injunction to physicians, "˜First, do no harm.'"
Providers are staring to consider how they will participate in the incentive programs set up by HHS's Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) to accelerate adoption of EHRs. The notice said it would be prudent for HHS to be on the lookout for problems that might crop in carrying out this plan.
"While we expect for these programs to help achieve the many desirable outcomes envisioned by Congress," the notice said, "a sense of responsibility for activities we support, historical experience, as well as mounting evidence of unexpected problems, demand that we consider potential downsides," the notice said.
HHS did not provide any examples or details about risky outcomes, and acknowledged some unforeseen results of the plan even could have a positive impact.
By "unintended consequences" we mean outcomes that are not intended, even though, upon investigation and reflection, they are, at least in part, a natural consequence of the activities. While some unintended consequences are desirable, the purpose of this contract is to identify and address those that are undesirable and potentially harmful.
Responses to the notice, posted on the Federal Business Opportunities web site, are due Feb. 26.
The Health & Human Services Department will set up a panel of experts to identify and fix any "potentially harmful unintended consequences" of its push to get physicians and hospitals equipped with electronic health records over the next several years.
In announcing a contract to set up the group, HHS acknowledged the plan to offer providers financial incentives to adopt health IT was meant to "enormously improve the quality and efficiency of health."
"But good intentions are often not enough," the notice said. "This contract honors the ancient injunction to physicians, "˜First, do no harm.'"
Providers are staring to consider how they will participate in the incentive programs set up by HHS's Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) to accelerate adoption of EHRs. The notice said it would be prudent for HHS to be on the lookout for problems that might crop in carrying out this plan.
"While we expect for these programs to help achieve the many desirable outcomes envisioned by Congress," the notice said, "a sense of responsibility for activities we support, historical experience, as well as mounting evidence of unexpected problems, demand that we consider potential downsides," the notice said.
HHS did not provide any examples or details about risky outcomes, and acknowledged some unforeseen results of the plan even could have a positive impact.
By "unintended consequences" we mean outcomes that are not intended, even though, upon investigation and reflection, they are, at least in part, a natural consequence of the activities. While some unintended consequences are desirable, the purpose of this contract is to identify and address those that are undesirable and potentially harmful.
Responses to the notice, posted on the Federal Business Opportunities web site, are due Feb. 26.
