EMR vs. EHR and HIE vs. HIO
Laying the foundationLike all other industries that have moved to electronic communication and business to business transactions, it starts with standards. The Health Care Information Technology industry was no different. In 2004 the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) was established not only to initiate and promote adoption of electronic health information but to lay the foundation for an infrastructure that would bring success to the on going initiative. From the beginning the most basic of terms needed to be defined and adopted to create a consistent language that would support the whole system including public policies, private development, and outreach and educational initiatives.
Defining TermsThe National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) was hired by ONCHIT to create key health IT definitions which were released in a report in April of 2008. The Executive Summary of the report tells us why defined terms are needed.
“The ambiguity of meaning created by not having a shared understanding of what these key terms signify becomes an obstacle to progress in health IT adoption when questions about a term’s definition and application complicate important policy expectations or directives, contractual matters, and product features. Differences in how a term is used can cause confusion and misunderstanding about what is being purchased, considered in proposed legislation, or included in current applicable policies and regulations.”
The contract to NAHIT was to reach consensus on definitions for the terms EMR, EHR, PHR, HIE and RHIO. HIO was added to the definitions once it was determined that HIE had a process and an entity meaning.
The definitions, when put into practice, will result in a number of benefits including:
- Health IT concepts expressed in a language that individuals comprehend.
- Standard terms for policy makers to use when drafting and evaluating policies.
- Important reference points for health IT initiatives.
- More effective contracting between health IT vendors and their customers.
Standard TerminologyThe following definitions have been adopted:
Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff within one health care organization.
Electronic Health Record (EHR)
An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one health care organization.
Personal Health Record (PHR)
An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be drawn from multiple sources while being managed, shared, and controlled by the individual.
Health Information Exchange (HIE)
The electronic movement of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards.
Health Information Organization (HIO)
An organization that oversees and governs the exchange of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards.
Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO)
A health information organization that brings together health care stakeholders within a defined geographic area and governs health information exchange among them for the purpose of improving health and care in that community.
About NAHITNAHIT was founded in 2002 by industry leaders from several sectors of the health care industry and had heavy membership from hospital systems and associations, and vendors. Its goal was to build a common ground for the implementation of health information technology, which at the time of closing, they said had happened. HIT moved front and center in efforts to reinvent and reinvigorate our health system. The focus changed from educating, advocating, and building common ground to planning, implementing, and using HIT to improve care, safety and efficiency.
Declaring its mission “accomplished”, the National Alliance for Health Information Technology ceased operation in September 2009. |
发表于 2010-5-23 21:45:30