David J. Brailer, MD, PhD
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Dear Dr. Brailer:
The organizations listed below are pleased to submit this collaborative response to the Request for Information issued by your office. This submission represents an extraordinary diversity of stakeholders who share a commitment to improving the health care system through more effective use of health information. These thirteen major health and technology organizations have endorsed a “Common Framework” to support health information exchange in the United States while protecting patient privacy. We have identified the vital design elements – of standards, policies, and methods – for creating a new information environment that would allow health care professionals, institutions, and individual Americans to exchange health information in order to improve patient care.
Together and individually, we are committed to collaborating with your office and the many other dedicated and creative partners to achieve the vision of a more effective and connected health care system. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this contribution to the national dialogue on this vital topic.
Sincerely,
The American Health Information Management Association
The American Medical Informatics Association
The American National Standards Institute, Healthcare Informatics Standards Board
The Center for Information Technology Leadership
The Connecting for Health Steering Group
The eHealth Initiative
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
Health Level Seven, Inc.
HIMSS EHR Vendor Association
Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise
Internet2
The Liberty Alliance Project
The National Alliance for Health Information Technology
