A push for interoperability
National Coordinator for Health IT Karen DeSalvo, MPH, MSc, designated interoperability as her top priority for 2014—and she appears to be keeping her word.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is moving full steam ahead, and during the Health IT Policy Committee earlier this week, announced that it will lead an effort to draft a “living document” to accompany its 10-year interoperability vision.
A new, online interactive community is cornerstone to this endeavor, providing a “deep dive” into how all stakeholders can achieve three-, six- and 10-year interoperability milestones, according to Erica Galvez, ONC’s interoperability portfolio manager—who spoke at the meeting.
The ONC is asking all stakeholders to participate in this online effort. The suggestions and feedback, due Sept. 12, will be presented to the Federal Advisory Committees for their input and recommendations in October, with an updated version expected to be posted for public comment in March 2015, she said.
Also this week, the announcement that Cerner is buying out Siemens Health Services, the health IT business unit of Siemens AG, for $1.3 billion in cash, generated quite a bit of buzz.
Based on 2014 estimates, the combined company will have $4.5 billion in annual revenue and have 18,000 client facilities, according to a statement released today by Kansas City, Mo.-based Cerner. An annual investment of $650 million will be put toward research and development.
More is sure to come on the push toward interoperability and ever-present healthcare consolidation in upcoming months. Stay tuned.
Laura Pedulli
Clinical Innovation + Technology