Healthcare as a Startup

HIMSS Publishes “Meaningful Use” Recommendations

April 29, 2009

HIMSS has published their recommendations on the definition of meaningful use for both hospitals and physicians.  I recommend everyone interested in healthcare IT take a look at them.

A couple interesting pieces caught my eye:

1. Acknowledgment of open source systems.  Today, the cost of receiving CCHIT certification (approx. $35k) prohibits the vast majority of open source EMRs from getting an official stamp of approval.  Of course ARRA requires that stimulus money only be provided to users of “certified” technology (which will likely be provided by CCHIT), potentially leaving open source developers and users out in the cold.  That the FOSS community and the CCHIT board were able to meet at the HIMSS ’09 conference and discuss ways around this problem clearly manifests itself in these documents.  HIMSS clearly recommends that HHS tackle the CCHIT & open source problem, which is the first step towards a win for everyone.
2. Progression of interoperability over time.  Overall HIMSS appears to place an importance on interop, but only after the first “phase” of widespread EMR adoption.  With that timeline, we won’t be looking at mandated interoperable systems until 2013 or so.  That’s not the end of the world and it’s certainly better than nothing, but I would have liked to see interop make a more substantive showing in “phase 1.”

Just my thoughts, what are yours?

Justin

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