2025 Health IT Modernization Program Recap

2025 marked a period of meaningful progress for the Indian Health Service Health Information Technology (IT) Modernization Program, as we continue building the foundation for a more connected, efficient, and patient-centered health system. Throughout the year, the Program was shaped by extensive collaboration, data-driven insights, and continuous engagement with the pilot site, Lawton Service Unit, and tribal and urban Indian organization partners. Together, these efforts refined core workflows, strengthened governance, and prepared PATH EHR for the next phase of the system build and operational readiness. This progress was reflected in several key activities that were carried out during 2025, such as:

• Seven multi-day enterprise design workshops that used an iterative approach to guide participants, including clinical, operational, and technical teams, through designing and building future-state workflows for PATH EHR. These workshops ensured alignment on design elements, improved readiness, built shared responsibility, and strengthened connections across teams, all supporting the development of PATH EHR. Following the workshops, the Program hosted a Future State Review, where Enterprise Collaboration Group (ECG) Domain Chairs reviewed and validated decisions and identified any remaining items requiring alignment. To close out this phase, ECG Domain Chairs participated in Integrated Testing, which walked through common scenarios to confirm that design decisions operated as intended within PATH EHR.
• Three tribal consultation and urban confer sessions (TC/UC) where participants from across Indian Country joined to receive updates on the Program’s progress and engage with Division of Health Information Technology Modernization and Operations leadership. These TC/UC sessions focused on Four Directions Warehouse, PATH EHR scope and capabilities, and the pilot site implementation pathway.
• The Lawton Leader Kick-off at the pilot site on June 10 shared ongoing activities and the overall project timelines from Program leadership, starting the collaboration and conversations between Program leadership and Lawton Service Unit. The event gave the team insight into service lines and day-to-day operations, helping ensure PATH EHR implementation creates minimal disruptions.
• Current State Review sessions were held online and in-person at the Lawton Service Unit. These assessments helped the PATH Team understand current site operations and business processes, providing a knowledge baseline for PATH EHR planning. These reviews informed future implementation activities.
• Three focus group sessions were held on Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Data Management and Analytics: Identity Proofing, and Health IT Implementation: Transitioning for IHS, tribal, and urban partners. These sessions collected information, expertise, common concerns, and shared priorities from these organizations.
• Two IHS Modernization town hall sessions provided IHS staff with the opportunity to engage directly with Program leadership during a live question and answer forum. Participants included informatics staff, information system coordinators, and facility directors.
• Multiple engagement events at Lawton Service Unit occurred, including the Pathway to PATH event, Change Leadership Training, Change Advocate Orientation, and Readiness Checks. These events helped prepare Lawton Service Unit staff for implementation and understand how PATH EHR will lead to better health outcomes.
• Localized data collection and build elements were introduced at the Lawton Service Unit through the Pre-Workshop Design Event, Workshop 1, and Workshop 2. Participants shared site-specific needs, validated cross-department integration, and demonstrated readiness to make informed decisions that directly support the site.

In 2026, the Program remains focused on delivering a modernized EHR that strengthens care delivery, improves provider experience, and supports the IHS mission for decades to come.

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