NAHIT wants to retire the term Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and take the definition of Electronic Health Record (EHR) into the future. They propose the adoption of these health IT definitions will offer clarity in their use in contracts, regulation, and health IT policy therefore spurring the adoption of health IT.
As I reported in an earlier blog the National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) was tasked with delivering a collection of definitions for six commonly used health IT terms. They just released their final report which will be presented to the American Health Information Community (AHIC) during an upcoming meeting. The report explains how adopting the proposed definitions supports the adoption of health IT interoperability by offering a foundation for addressing important adoption barriers, one of which is the existence of differing and conflicting terms. Two of the biggest distinctions in the report was Health Information Exchange (HIE) versus Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) and EMR versus EHR, which are often used interchangeably. The report states, "HIE is process. HIO is an oversight organization and RHIO is a type of HIO", and "The principal difference between an EMR and an EHR is the ability to exchange information interoperability. Thus the term EMR is on course for eventual retirement."
The definitions are reported as:
Electronic Medical Record
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
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
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
The electronic movement of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards.
Health Information Organization
An organization that oversees and governs the exchange of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards.
Regional Health Information Organization
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.
Besides these definitions, there are a number of other upcoming activities endorsing the credibility that health IT is off to great places. A strategic health IT plan is soon to be released, NHIN prototype demonstrations are planned for later this year, AHIC's successor should be transitioned by Fall, and the presidential candidates are talking health IT even if it is at a high level. Oh, the places you'll go, health IT!
