Twenty years ago this month, 21 of the industry’s leading EHR vendors came together to form what was then called HIMSS EHR Vendor Association to accelerate widespread EHR adoption. It was based on a bold premise: competitors worked collaboratively to identify issues related to software development and functionality of EHR products and to advance initiatives established in the Health IT strategic frameworkwhich had been published in July 2004 by what was then known as ONC (now ASTP).
The new partnership was also tasked with helping HIMSS establish its strategic direction and official positions on EHR-related issues and providing input and feedback to the certification process established by CCHIT.
in a press release announcing the new partnershipFounding President Charlene Underwood described it as a historic opportunity to improve healthcare delivery in the US.
EHR technology has demonstrated its ability to make healthcare safer, more efficient, and more convenient for both patients and providers. As EHR providers, we have a responsibility to our customers to shape the future of interoperability for the effective and secure exchange of patient data, and to the nation to promote widespread adoption of this life-saving technology.
“EHR technology has demonstrated its ability to make healthcare safer, more efficient and more convenient for both patients and providers. “As EHR providers, we have a responsibility to our customers to shape the future of interoperability for the effective and secure exchange of patient data, and to the nation to promote widespread adoption of this life-saving technology,” he said.
Today, the health IT market is very different than it was in 2004. Back then, Hospital EHR adoption was 9% and office-based physician adoption was 17%. Today, more than 96% of hospitals and 78% of physicians use an EHR, most of which are certified through the ASTP-driven process. In the years since the EHRA was established, many of our founding member companies have gone through acquisitions or mergers, and new market entrants have also joined the Association.
The voice of the EHR developer
The evolution of the health IT market can be seen in our track record of achievements. Over the years, we have worked to ensure our members’ voices are heard on regulatory and policy issues of critical importance to both EHR developers and providers who use our technologies. We’ve submitted feedback and met with policymakers on everything from meaningful use and standards development to the National Health Information Exchange and TEFCA through 21street Century Cures Act, HTI-1 and HTI-2, all of which can be found on our website. Statements and Positions page.
The evolution of the health IT market can be seen in our track record of achievements. Over the years, we have worked to ensure our members’ voices are heard on regulatory and policy issues of critical importance to both EHR developers and providers who use our technologies.
However, we did more than just offer recommendations and feedback. We have held numerous briefings for Congress over the years, focusing on issues such as the role of EHRs in value-based care and the 21st Century Cures Act, as well as:
We have also leveraged our collective experience to provide member companies with tools to navigate a tumultuous regulatory landscape, which can be found at Publications and tools on our website page.
We also published the industry’s first EHR Developer Code of Conduct, which reflects our members’ commitment to supporting the safe delivery of healthcare, fostering continuous innovation, and operating with high integrity in the marketplace.
Social-based initiatives
Our work extends to the community. As a fledgling organization, we joined forces with HL7 and HIMSS for disaster response efforts following Hurricane Katrina. We subsequently provided support as an implementation partner for text4baby, a free health texting service that provided information to pregnant women and new mothers.
We also carried out numerous initiatives addressing the country’s opioid crisis, the most recent of which was the publication of the Opioid Tapering Implementation Guide for HCE.
Today’s EHR Association
The Association itself has also evolved. In 2009, we changed our name to “EHR Association” and today our The membership is made up of the 29 companies. which supply the vast majority of EHRs to hospitals and doctors’ offices across the country.
We continue our mission to improve the quality and efficiency of care through the adoption and use of innovative and interoperable health IT through the efforts of a variety of work groups and work groupseach of which focuses on a unique aspect of health IT regulation, adoption and utilization.
Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of achievement and look forward to another 20 years of achievement on behalf of our diverse membership.
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication. This article was Reposted from the EHRA Blog..
For more information about the EHR Association and its mission and vision, please visit our website at www.ehra.org. Stay up to date on our initiatives, priorities, and insights into industry trends and emerging policies by subscribing to our blog at www.ehrablog.org. You can also find us at unknown and LinkedIn.
