Vermont HIT Plan Completed

Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. (VITL), a Montpelier, Vt.-based non-profit public-private partnership, has released the Vermont Health Information Technology Plan.

The document provides Vermont with a roadmap for the use of health information technology and a network for exchanging data between healthcare organizations, says the company.

The plan, approved on July 11 by VITL's board of directors, was developed by a workgroup of more than 30 representatives from various stakeholders and the process was facilitated by HLN Consulting, LLC (San Diego, Calif.).

The Vermont Health Information Technology Plan identifies a set of four core objectives for a five-year planning cycle:

1. Enable the use of electronic health record systems.

2. Establish and operate the infrastructure necessary to promote a secure electronic health information exchange.

3. Empower consumers to take an active role in electronic health information initiatives.

4. Enable public health agencies to leverage health information technology/health information exchange investments.