Top News
AMIA Occupational Codes for Clinical Informatics Webinar
September 29, 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET
This Friday, the AMIA Public Policy team will host a webinar focusing on the progress for the clinical informatics industry formally through designated occupational codes.
The webinar includes:
- Background on the process and AMIA’s efforts on Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC) Codes with the Department of Labor
- AMIA’s initial application to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET)
- Potential wins for the clinical informatics industry
- How AMIA is planning for the future
- Opportunities for AMIA members and other organizations to get involved
AMIA New Clinical Informatics Occupational Code Webpage
AMIA is pleased to announce we have authored a webpage dedicated to background and advocacy to include a unique occupational code relevant to medical informatics. The page also contains our recent efforts and what to anticipate in the coming years.
Endorse AMIA’s OCA Application to O*NET
Currently, AMIA will be submitting an Occupational Code Assignment (OCA) application to the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) advocating for a “clinical informatics” code and need your help. Please review the OCA application to O*NET and ask your organization to endorse this initiative. Questions? Contact the AMIA Public Policy team. twilliams@amia.org
Check out the Endorser Sign On Form.
NAM “Change Maker” Campaign
AMIA is joining the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) “Change Maker” Campaign as a follow up to their Clinician Well-Being Collaborative. This public campaign will celebrate all the ways organizations are institutionalizing well-being as a long-term value across the nation. AMIA was an early endorser of the NAM’s National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being.
All Change Makers will build on their well-being efforts by affirming their commitment to Priority Area 6 of the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being: "Institutionalize Well-Being as a Long-Term Value." Additionally, NAM Change Makers will have opportunities to shape Collaborative activities, such as the inaugural National Health Worker Well-Being Day in 2024 and other Collaborative events. All Change Makers will receive public recognition of their role through a 2023-2024 Change Maker for Health Workforce Well-Being Badge that can be displayed on websites, social media, and other promotional materials.
Given AMIA’s ongoing position on improving the well-being of the health workforce by reducing documentation burden with the lead efforts by the 25x5 Task Force, we are excited to join!
Learn more about the “Change Maker” Campaign.
AMIA Board Approved the Public Policy North Stars
The AMIA Board approved Public Policy North Stars during their latest meeting. This could not have been completed without participation from membership. We thank you for your comments and feedback on the survey and will work together to continue engagement on the North Star’s. The North Stars are ranked in order:
- Support the healthcare workforce by advancing the field of informatics and reducing burden on clinicians
- Advocate for evidence-based care and decision-support through machine-learning and AI
- Advocate for health IT solutions that ameliorate systemic biases and discrimination
- Advocating for ongoing funding for the field, including informatics research
The AMIA Public Policy team and Public Policy Committee will continue to work on the current objectives of responding to Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Request for Information opportunities. The Public Policy North Stars are intended to supplement existing efforts.
Regulatory
NIH RFI on Updating the NIH Mission Statement
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a Request for Information (RFI) inviting suggestions on the proposed update to their mission statement. The input NIH is seeking to the new mission statement includes, but is not limited to, feedback on the statement’s reflection of the goals and objectives in the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2021-2025 and suggestions for specific language that could be added to the proposed mission statement and why.
It currently reads as:
- “To seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.”
The proposed mission statement:
- “To seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to optimize health and prevent or reduce illness for all people.”
Responses to NIH must be submitted by November 24 at 11:59 pm ET. Learn more about the RFI and how to submit.
ICYMI: In Case You Missed
FDA Public Workshop to Enhance Clinical Study Diversity
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative will host a public workshop, November 29-30 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm ET. This workshop is intended to gather input on how to enhance clinical study diversity by discussing ways to increase enrollment of historically underrepresented populations in clinical studies and encourage clinical study participation that reflects the prevalence of the disease or condition among demographic subgroups. Some specific areas to address include establishing inclusion and exclusion criteria for certain subgroups, such as pregnant and lactating women and individuals with disabilities, including intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental illness, as well as appropriate use of decentralized trials or digital health tools, clinical endpoints, biomarker selection, and studying analysis.
ONC 2023 Interoperability Standards Advisory
On August 8, ONC opened the comment period for the 10th Annual ISA Reference Edition. The Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA) is the model ONC uses to coordinate the identification, assessment, and public awareness of interoperability standards and implementation specifications that can be used by the healthcare industry to address specific interoperability needs including, but not limited to, interoperability for clinical, public health, and research purposes.
Comment period ends October 6. Learn more about ISA and get the latest updates.
- ONC Tech Forum: Clinical Decision Support Series; healthit.gov
- Next Session: The Future of Clinical Decision Support – Wednesday, September 27, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm ET
- Enhancing Public Access to the Results of Research Supported by the Department of Health and Human Services; nationalacademies.org
- Thursday, November 30, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm ET
- Friday December 1, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
AMIA’s Washington Download is your source for health informatics policy news and information from around the Beltway, covering action from the Hill, the Administration, and important AMIA collaborators.