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.