ACCESS, EXCHANGE, AND USE OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH DATA IN CLINICAL NOTES
New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
10/28/2021
table that charts list comparision
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
1,700
0
425
0
0
0
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Secretary, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), promotes the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information to improve health care. There are ongoing efforts to determine what types of information should be recorded in patientsâ electronic medical records and how that information can be utilized to improve health and healthcare. Data reflecting Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) â the conditions in which people live, learn, work, and play â is limited across healthcare yet is vital to collect and understand for both individual care and public health. There is a growing recognition that by capturing and accessing SDOH data during the course of care, providers can more easily address non-clinical factors, such as food, housing, and transportation insecurities, which can have a profound impact on a person's overall health.
The 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) requires HHS and ONC to improve the interoperability of health information. ONC's Cures Act final rule identifies important data elements that should be made electronically available and exchanged through the use of health information technology (IT).
In support of these efforts, ONC seeks to better understand patientsâ and health care providersâ knowledge of SDOH, how SDOH data are currently documented in the electronic health record and how this information is used in patient care. Additionally, ONC seeks to understand challenges experienced and preferences for SDOH data collection, sharing and utilization from both the provider and patient perspectives.
A series of 20 focus groups, a mix of asynchronous (discussion board) and synchronous (live), will be conducted among groups of healthcare professionals (10 groups) and patients/care partners (10 groups), representing various backgrounds, demographics, and healthcare professions, to learn more about their experiences and thoughts relating to the capture and utilization of SDOH data. A prescreening questionnaire will be sent to 1,500 individuals and 200 of those 1,500 people will be chosen to participate in the focus groups. Each individual will participate in one 90-minute focus group. This is a 3-year request for OMB approval.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Synchronous Focus Group Questions for Clinicians and Healthcare Professionals