Originally Published MX September/October 2004
SPECIAL REPORT: IT IN HEALTHCARE
National Alliance for Health Information Technology|
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One of the more recently established organizations in the healthcare IT world is the National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT), which was founded in 2002. The group's genesis stems from a growing recognition that adoption and implementation of IT in healthcare is not merely a matter of technology; it will also have a massive impact on clinical care.
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Addressing that issue is a large part of the mission of the alliance, which facilitates the development of technical and intellectual knowledge in the healthcare universe concerning the barriers to adoption of IT—especially with regard to its impact on the clinical environment. Although such a mission seems fairly distinctive, the questions examined by the organization affect every segment of the healthcare universe—including providers, payers, medical product manufacturers, and government agencies. Consequently, the alliance is a partnership that involves leaders from all sectors of the field. Its 100 members seek to effect collaboration in utilizing technology to improve patient safety, quality of care, and operating performance.
Although the alliance promotes the implementation of technical standards, its main thrust centers on the clinical effects of such changes. While the alliance has an office in Washington, DC, and its members comment on drafts of healthcare bills, the organization is self-described not as a lobbying group, but as an educational one, helping to shape the policy environment.
More information about NAHIT is available via www.nahit.org.
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