Health IT has transitioned from simply digitizing patient data to now focusing on improving care and lowering costs, Stephen Konya of the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) said Tuesday at the monthly WIN luncheon held at the Sheraton Hotel.

Konya said his office hopes to make providers see the business case for interoperability, follow common standards and experience a culture change around access to information.

“We need to get enough people playing in the sandbox, and the market can take it from there,” Konya said.

Konya travels around the country on behalf of the ONC to promote the nationwide exchange of health information to improve healthcare. In regards to cities who are aligned with ONC’s mission, Konya praised Madison for being a “hot spot” for health IT innovation, trailing New York City, Boston, Silicon Valley and Chicago.

Those thoughts were echoed by Forward Health Group COO Subbu Ravi, who added, “we have enough resources here (in Madison) to be a leader nationally (in health IT).”

HealthX Venture’s Dan Blake and Health eFiling’s Ben West were the other members of the WIN panel.