Who's leading the connectivity charge?
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| Mary Stevens, editor, CMIO magazine |
The Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise Connectathon is on in Chicago this week, and “winning” systems will be those that do what they set out to do, such as demonstrate compliance with industry standards while exchanging patient health information with disparate systems. Many vendors will show the fruits of their integration labors next month at the HIMSS11 show in Orlando, where the Interoperability Showcase beckons.
The showcase also aims to feature actual facilities demonstrating real-world interoperability. When I spoke with HIMSS officials last week, a number of the participants in the real-world demos had yet to be determined—it’s hoped that three or four facilities will particpate. But even a handful of real-world interoperating systems would be encouraging to see.
Also this week, the ONC took a step toward better connectivity, enlisting Accenture to help identify standards and specifications that can facilitate data exchange across the healthcare landscape. Under the two-year contract, Accenture will work with ONC to develop and manage business scenarios that ONC will use to help determine the standards and IT systems necessary for operation.
These scenarios will focus on patient-related information, such as ensuring that care providers’ certified EMR systems can handle patient requests for clinical summaries. Accenture also will create a process for ONC’s standards and interoperability framework.
In-depth integration will play a bigger part in the next round of meaningful use requirements. The HHS’ Health IT Policy Committee has issued a request for comments regarding proposed Stage 2 metrics. These include requirements for CPOE, e-prescribing and clinical decision support (CDS) to improve performance on high-priority health conditions. Integrated data exchange is at the heart of these metrics and others on the drawing board for Stage 2 and beyond. Mark your calendar: Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Time Feb. 25.
Federal policy isn’t the only driver for the integration imperative: A pair of recent studies indicate that medical technology adoption by the baby-boomer generation is a growing rapidly; and that caregivers of all ages are also alpha users of IT as a way to improve healthcare for family members. This means new flows of vital patient data into EHRs, PHRs and other systems, if the standards and tools are in place to make that happen.
Are federal policies, providers, vendors or patients leading the charge for better data exchange at your organization? Let me know at mstevens@trimedmedia.com.
Mary Stevens
Editor of CMIO