New Health IT Data: Hospitals, Clinicians & App Marketplaces (2023-2025)

The landscape of healthcare technology is becoming increasingly data-driven, and new information released this month offers a detailed look at the adoption and utilization of certified health IT systems by hospitals and clinicians across the United States. Released jointly by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), these datasets provide valuable insights into the progress of interoperability and the ongoing efforts to modernize healthcare through technology. This influx of data, part of the “Digital Dividends” blog series from ONC, is poised to inform policy decisions, drive innovation, and ultimately improve patient care.

The newly available data focuses on the use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology, a cornerstone of the Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program and the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). These programs incentivize eligible hospitals and clinicians to adopt and meaningfully use certified health IT, aiming to enhance care coordination, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. Understanding the extent to which these technologies are being implemented – and how – is crucial for evaluating the success of these initiatives and identifying areas for improvement. The release represents a significant step toward greater transparency and accountability within the health IT ecosystem.

Understanding the Data: Hospitals and Clinicians

The data released covers hospital participation in 2023, and clinician participation from 2019 through 2023. This extended timeframe for clinicians allows for a more comprehensive analysis of trends and patterns in health IT adoption. The datasets link participants in the PI Program and MIPS with the specific certified technologies they are utilizing, drawing from the ONC Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL). This linkage is a powerful feature, enabling researchers and policymakers to understand not only *whether* providers are using certified health IT, but *which* systems they are employing. The inclusion of hospital and clinician identifiers allows for potential linkage with other healthcare datasets, opening up opportunities for more in-depth analysis and research. This data linkage potential is a key benefit, allowing for a more holistic view of the healthcare landscape.

The datasets are available for public use, fostering a collaborative environment for data-driven decision-making. According to the ONC, the datasets merge Medicare PI Program and Merit-based Incentive Payment System data with the CHPL, providing a granular view of technology adoption. This transparency is intended to encourage innovation and facilitate a deeper understanding of the health IT market. The availability of this data is a direct result of ongoing efforts to promote interoperability and data sharing within the healthcare system.

Hospital Network Participation: Expanding Connectivity

Beyond EHR adoption, the data also sheds light on hospital participation in health information networks (HINs). Through a partnership with the American Hospital Association (AHA), ONC supports the annual Information Technology Supplement to the AHA Annual Survey of US hospitals. This supplement gathers data on hospital engagement with various types of networks, including regional HIEs, national networks, and those affiliated with EHR vendors. Increasingly, hospitals are also participating in Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), a key component of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), a national initiative designed to establish a universal floor for interoperability across the country. CMS is actively working to reduce administrative burden and improve interoperability, as evidenced by their recent partnership with Oklahoma on a pilot program for a statewide Qualified Health Plan (QHP) directory.

A new dataset, encompassing hospital responses from 2022-2024, reveals that over 3,000 non-federal acute care hospitals are actively participating in these networks. While this dataset represents a valuable snapshot, it’s important to note that it is based on survey data and may be subject to non-response bias. Researchers and analysts should consider this limitation when drawing conclusions from the data. The AHA also collects data on hospital use of artificial intelligence, health information exchange partners, and information blocking, offering a broader perspective on the evolving IT landscape within hospitals. This comprehensive data collection effort provides a rich resource for understanding the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare organizations.

Exploring the Health App Marketplace

The data release isn’t limited to established EHR systems and hospital networks. ONC has also been tracking the burgeoning market for health apps, beginning in 2019. Initial studies focused on app marketplaces hosted by EHR companies and innovative organizations, aiming to understand the landscape of applications integrating with EHRs. A 2019 study, published in *JAMA Network Open*, provided a baseline understanding of the number of companies developing applications to enhance EHR functionality. The study highlighted the growing interest in leveraging technology to improve patient care and streamline workflows.

Now, ONC has made available a dataset encompassing apps and software applications discovered through these marketplaces from 2019-2025. This dataset includes information on app names, developers, and descriptions, offering a valuable resource for researchers and developers interested in the digital health space. The emergence of technologies like ambient scribes – AI-powered tools that automatically document clinical encounters – demonstrates the rapid pace of innovation in this area. ONC’s ongoing operate in this space, including additional studies on digital health company experiences with APIs, underscores the importance of fostering a vibrant and interoperable app ecosystem. This focus on APIs is crucial for enabling seamless data exchange and integration between different health IT systems.

The Importance of Interoperability and Data Exchange

The release of these datasets comes at a critical juncture for healthcare. Interoperability – the ability of different health IT systems to exchange and use electronic health information – remains a significant challenge. While progress has been made, barriers to seamless data exchange persist, hindering care coordination and potentially impacting patient safety. The Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI) rules published by ONC from 2023 to 2024, as noted by the Congressional Research Service, address key areas such as algorithmic transparency and patient engagement, aiming to overcome these obstacles. These rules represent a comprehensive effort to modernize health IT policy and promote a more connected healthcare system.

The availability of these datasets is expected to spur further research and innovation, leading to a better understanding of the health IT market and the factors driving – or hindering – interoperability. By providing access to this data, ONC and CMS are empowering stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement and develop solutions that address the evolving needs of the healthcare system. The data can be used to assess the effectiveness of existing policies, identify gaps in coverage, and inform the development of new strategies to promote interoperability and improve patient care.

Key Takeaways:

• New datasets are available detailing hospital and clinician use of certified health IT for 2019-2023.
• Data reveals increasing hospital participation in health information networks, including those supporting the TEFCA framework.
• ONC is tracking the growth of the health app marketplace, providing insights into innovation and integration with EHRs.
• These datasets are intended to promote transparency, drive innovation, and improve interoperability within the healthcare system.

Looking ahead, ONC plans to release further data updates and expand the scope of its data collection efforts. The agency encourages innovative use of the data and welcomes feedback from the healthcare community. For those interested in exploring the datasets, visit healthit.gov/data. The ongoing commitment to data transparency and accessibility is a vital step toward building a more connected, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system. The next major checkpoint will be the release of 2024 hospital data, anticipated in late 2025.

What questions do these new datasets raise for you? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and please share this article with your colleagues to foster a broader discussion about the future of health IT.