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Government Launches Healthcare IT Standards Compliance Web Site Reposted from HealthcareITNews.com WASHINGTON – The federal government announced last Friday the launch of a new web site to help vendors test their products for compliance with standards needed for participation in the National Health Information Network (NHIN). The web site, developed in partnership by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT), Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP), the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology “provides HIT implementers with access to the tools and resources needed to support and test their implementation of standards-based health systems,” said a HITSP email to its members and stakeholders. The site currently provides information about the NHIN initiatives, CCHIT, HITSP, the interoperability specifications, the standards referenced by the specifications, and the available test resources, HITSP announced. According to John Halamka, MD, chairman of HITSP, the site will continue to evolve based on stakeholder input. "This web site enables all stakeholders to implement HITSP standards, understand the roadmap for data interoperability and leverage all the work that has been done to create unambiguous interoperability specifications for consumer empowerment, lab and biosurveillance,” Halamka said. HITSP is encouraging feedback on the web site at hit-tst-team@nist.gov. In addition to the web site launch, HITSP announced it expects to have an emergency responder electronic health record use case ready by late July for inspection. It also will complete privacy and security constructs to support all HITSP interoperability specifications published to date. HITSP said it will hold a public comment period from July 23 to August 17 on several documents, including: • privacy and security constructs • emergency responder electronic health record use cases • requirement, design and standards selection (RDSS) documents for two new use cases--consumer access to clinical information and quality measurement The new HITSP web site can be found at http://xreg2.nist.gov/hit-testing HIMSS Advocacy 2007 HIMSS Advocacy Day Puts Words into Action HIMSS and 27 other associations co-sponsored the sixth annual HIMSS Advocacy Day on May 15th in Washington, DC. More than 250 healthcare information technology (IT) professionals and their allies from 40 states attended the morning program, which featured Rep. Phil Gingrey, MD (R-GA) as the keynote speaker. Rep. Gingrey told attendees the value of coming to Washington to advocate for change and thanked them for taking the time to focus on how technology can be used to transform healthcare. A congressional staff panel consisting of Katy Barr, health aide for U.S. Senator Michael Enzi on the Senate H.E.L.P. Committee; Melanie Benning, health aide for U.S. Senator Sam Brownback; and Dr. Wendell Primus, health aide for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi updated attendees on the current congressional environment and opportunities for healthcare transformation. After lunch, the advocates converged on Capitol Hill to conduct a total of 215 visits with their members of Congress. “This year’s Advocacy Day was unlike any other,” said Dave Roberts, HIMSS vice president of government relations. “The United State Senate again passed a resolution in honor of National Health IT Week, May 14 - 18. HIMSS Advocacy Day was also the cornerstone event of the second National Health IT Week. Members of both the House and Senate were very aware of our messages this year and expressed strong interest to help us reach our goals. We commend both houses of Congress for recognizing we can transform healthcare through IT.” HIMSS Advocacy is annual event where more and more HIMSS members attend each year to participate. HIMSS Advocacy Day is the cornerstone event of National Health IT Week and will be held next on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 in Washington, DC. This complimentary event is available to all HIMSS members as well as persons in related professions and industries. Advocacy Day participants connect with federal and congressional healthcare policymakers in a half-day discussion on current issues before traveling to Capitol Hill to discuss HIMSS Advocacy Agenda with members of Congress and their staff. For more information, you can go to the HIMSS Advocacy web page at http://www.himss.org/advocacy. CSOHIMSS Jane A. Blank Annual Scholarship The CSOHIMSS Chapter is proud to anounce the 2007 winner of our annual Jane A. Blank Distinguished Member Scholarship Award to Christopher Khoury. Mr. Khoury is a 2008 MBA Candidate at Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University. The scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 and comes with a one-year HIMSS membership for the winner. Scholarships are awarded for academic excellence and the potential for future leadership in the healthcare information and management systems industry. Review criteria are focused on academic achievement, service activities, technical skills, career goals, demonstration of leadership potential, and communication skills. The $1,000.00 scholarship (cash award) and one year HIMSS membership is awarded to the student deemed most deserving by the CSOHIMSS Scholarship Committee. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship for 2008, download the Scholarship Application or visit our web site at www.csohimss.org for more information. Application submission deadline is January 31, 2008. Good luck! |
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