The Light at the End of the Tunnel
I first grew interested in the possibilities and potential of integrated healthcare information systems when I heard a proposal for a Community Health Information Network (CHIN) in the late 1990s. We’ve come a long way since those early efforts at interoperable health IT—there are currently approximately 190 regional health information organization (RHIO)/health information exchange (HIE) initiatives in various forms of development in the United States.
These organizations will form the building blocks of a nationwide health information network (NHIN), an interconnected health information infrastructure that will connect providers, consumers and others involved in supporting health and healthcare. The scope of this undertaking is vast, with many challenges ahead and many still waiting to be uncovered.
For C-suite information systems architects waiting for a definition of “meaningful use,” integrating the disparate systems within their enterprise is the first step on the road to deploying EMR technology as outlined in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.
It is this piece of legislation, and the nearly $20 billion in funding attached to it, that leads me to believe interoperable and integrated health IT may be a reality within the next decade. With a significant amount of money sitting on the table, and the promise of even more in Medicare reimbursement incentives—health IT is at a tipping point.
The coming year promises to lay the foundation for EMR/EHR deployment, RHIO/HIE connectivity and, ultimately, the roadmap for a NHIN. We’re looking forward to being your partner on this journey.
Mary joined TriMed Media in 2003. She was the founding editor and editorial director of Health Imaging, Cardiovascular Business, Molecular Imaging Insight and CMIO, now known as Clinical Innovation + Technology. Prior to TriMed, Mary was the editorial director of HealthTech Publishing Company, where she had worked since 1991. While there, she oversaw four magazines and related online media, and piloted the launch of two magazines and websites. Mary holds a master’s in journalism from Syracuse University. She lives in East Greenwich, R.I., and when not working, she is usually running around after her family, taking photos or cooking.