Under the direction of Mclean, Va.-based BearingPoint Inc., the National Alliance for Health Information Technology is working with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to engage healthcare stakeholders in a participatory process to define key health IT terms.
The first step is in the process is to form two works groups that will develop consensus-based definitions for the standard use of key health information technology terms. As part of a project, a Records Work Group will be formed to develop consensus on definitions for electronic medical record, electronic health record, and personal health record, while the Networks Work Group will develop consensus on definitions for health information exchange and regional health information organization.
The alliance is accepting applications for work group membership on its Web site at www.definitions.nahit.org from Nov. 5 to Nov. 16.
For the work groups, the Alliance is seeking volunteers from providers, manufacturers/vendors of healthcare IT products, payers, purchasers, employers, consumer advocacy groups, associations and professional organizations, academic institutions, government and currently operating health information exchanges and regional health information organizations. Candidates should be:
- Leaders of national stature, able to simultaneously represent the healthcare field, their respective sector category and their organization.
- Experts with experience in the focus area of the work group.
- Recognized leaders within their organization, able and willing to engage their organization in this project.
The first work group meetings will be held Nov. 30, and workgroups are expected to meet on a biweekly basis via teleconference until a final report is published at the end of March 2008.
