Healthcare IT definitions released
Healthcare IT News By Bernie Monegain, Editor 05/21/08
CHICAGO - The National Alliance for Health Information Technology has released its definitions for key healthcare technology terms, such as electronic health record, personal health record and health information exchange. The Alliance's report "Defining Key Health Information Technology Terms," reflects consensus work completed over the last several months. The definitions project, funded by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC), came as a response to what healthcare IT leaders view as a growing need to address ambiguous definitions.
The lack of clear terminology can lead to unintentional consequences with respect to regulation, other forms of healthcare policy, contract and purchasing decisions and other health IT initiatives, according to Alliance officials.
The need was highlighted by the Alliance's literature review that identified between 18 and 63 possible definitions for each of five key health IT terms: electronic medical record (EMR), electronic health record (EHR), personal health record (PHR), health information exchange (HIE) and regional health information organization (RHIO).
Two work groups of experts developed consensus definitions for the five terms.
"We have proposed language that is easily understood by non-technical leaders in healthcare delivery, policymakers with responsibility and accountability for decisions in the area of health IT, consumers who are being asked to participate more fully in their care and wellness and need education tools to do so," said Jane Horowitz, the Alliance's chief marketing officer and leader of the ONC project.
The definitions are:
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 healthcare 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 healthcare 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.
