The Department of Human Services through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has laid out a vision for a national Electronic Health Record (EHR). When completed, the EHR will bring together patient information stored on the information systems of multiple providers. The project is ambitious, but the establishment of such a national health information network will improve patient outcomes and safety by providing caregivers with a more complete view of a patient’s health.

To achieve the realization of this vision will require the establishment of information technology interoperability standards and the cooperation of healthcare information technology vendors in the implementation of the finalized standards. CPSI is committed to this process and is an active participant in the following organizations and events:

Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) /
HIMSS Electronic Health Record Vendors Association (EHRVA):

CPSI is a Corporate Member of the HIMSS organization and an active participant in the EHRVA. CPSI participated in the HIMSS Interoperability Showcase at the HIMSS Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, CA February 12-16, 2006. CPSI has a representative that is a voting member of the EHRVA Government Relations Work Group.

For more information about HIMSS: http://www.himss.org/ASP/index.asp

For more information about EHRVA: http://www.himssehrva.org/ASP/index.asp

Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT):

CPSI has representation on the CCHIT Inpatient Functionality Work Group which has been tasked with determining certification standards for electronic medical record inpatient functionality. The work group consists of thirteen members; all of which, including CPSI’s representative, were chosen through a national search that included a formal application and qualification review process.

For more information about CCHIT: http://www.cchit.org/

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE):

CPSI participated in the IHE North America Connectathon January 16-20, 2006 and will continue to participate in future IHE sponsored interoperability events.

For more information about IHE: http://www.ihe.net/index.cfm