Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality June 25, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request information from (1) small- and medium-sized practices about how they study or redesign their workflow, including information on the use of tools and methods for studying workflow, and (2) others (e.g., experts, vendors, professional associations) that have developed, implemented and used tools and methods for studying workflow in the context of health IT implementation and use. Workflow is defined as the way work is performed and patient-related information is communicated within small- and medium-sized practices and between those practices and external organizations such as community pharmacies and local hospitals. It is our understanding that there is currently no standard description of workflows for care processes that can be used to guide decisions of where and how to incorporate health information technology. This Request for Information is part of a three-pronged effort to scan the environment, the literature and knowledgeable and interested parties to produce a useful list of resources that may assist small- and medium- sized medical practices and clinics to consider the utility and potential effectiveness of incorporating health IT into the way they practice and communicate patient information. The responses to this request for information will be considered for reference and possible incorporation into an electronic toolkit to be made available on the Internet to assist small- and medium-sized practices in analyzing or redesigning workflow either before or after implementation of one or more health IT applications. All responses to this request for information are voluntary.