National Health Information Network: Who's Doing What?
Several organizations and agencies are involved in trying to make the national health information network a reality:
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology: The mission of this office, headed by David Brailer, M.D., is to implement the president's vision for widespread adoption of interoperable electronic health records. The office has been charged with four primary responsibilities:
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Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology: The mission of this voluntary, industry-sponsored group is to accelerate adoption of interoperable health information technology (HIT) throughout the U.S. health care system by creating an efficient, credible, sustainable mechanism for the certification of HIT products. Its Web address is<www.cchit.org>. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Physicians' Electronic Health Record Coalition (PEHRC): This coalition of 21 physician organizations, including APA, assists physicians, particularly those in small and mid-sized practices, to acquire and use affordable, standards-based electronic health records and other HIT to improve quality, enhance patient safety, and increase efficiency. Its Web address is<www.pehrc.org>. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
APA Corresponding Committee on Electronic Health Records: The APA Board of Trustees gave the committee these charges in December 2004:
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American Health Information Community (“the Community”): On June 6 Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced the formation of this national collaboration to help the transition to electronic health records—including common standards and interoperability. The Community will be chartered for two years, with the option to renew and a duration of no more than five years. Its Web address is<www.os.dhhs.gov/healthit/ahic.html>. |