NeHC, HIMSS Foundation merge

The HIMSS Foundation and the National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) officially merged on Dec. 23, according to a HIMSS press release.

As part of the merger, NeHC members will become HIMSS members. The NeHC board of directors will appoint a volunteer advisory committee to begin establishing a new HIMSS Center for Patient - and Family-Centered Care.

Also with NeHC folded into the HIMSS Foundation, the expanded organization will integrate its education programs, with the NeHC university and resource library moved to HIMSS’ website. NeHC’s health information exchange programs will become part of the HIMSS HIE portfolio.

"Both organizations embrace a similar mission to engage with all stakeholders to drive positive change in healthcare with IT and provide a single, mission-driven voice and focus," according to the announcement.

NeHC, a nonprofit created five years ago by former Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, has worked closely with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and public and private organizations to encourage effective use of health IT. The original five-year cooperative agreement funding from ONC ended in 2013, according to HIMSS.

NeHC’s CEO, Kate Berry, will continue to play a leadership role to assist with the transition.