Interoperability Standards Recognized by Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services

March 5, 2009

SCRA’s Advanced Technology Institute is Key Leader in Program

Program’s specifications are mandatory for federal agencies that implement healthcare information technology systems

CHARLESTON, SC – March 5, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary has recognized the second set of interoperability standards advanced by the Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP). As a key leader of the HITSP effort, the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), an SCRA affiliate, is helping to implement President Obama’s national vision to make all U.S. health records electronically available and interoperable by 2015.

HITSP produces “Interoperability Specifications” (IS) – documents that harmonize and integrate the technical standards necessary to assure the interoperability of electronic health records for specific business uses and help support the nationwide exchange of healthcare data. Following the Secretary’s acceptance of the IS and a year-long period of implementation testing, the ISs are formally recognized as “interoperability standards.” 

As mandated in Executive Order 13410, federal agencies must implement relevant recognized interoperability standards in new and updated health information systems.

Recognition of the latest round of interoperability standards was announced in the January 21, 2009, edition of the Federal Register, a daily compilation of Federal regulations and documents for public distribution. This includes Interoperability Standards for Emergency Responder Electronic Health Records; Consumer Empowerment and Access to Clinical Information Via Media; and Quality.

These standards join three others – electronic health records, biosurveillance, and consumer empowerments – that were recognized by the Secretary in January 2008. To see the Federal Register entry and the list of recognized interoperability standards, go to:  http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-1068.pdf

HITSP, a cooperative partnership between the public and private sectors, was formed in 2005 for the purpose of harmonizing and integrating standards that will meet clinical and business needs for sharing information among organizations and systems. More than 600 organizations representing consumers, health care providers, public health agencies, government agencies, standards developing organizations, and other stakeholders now participate in HITSP and its committees.

Operating under contract to HHS, HITSP is administered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in cooperation with ATI, program manager for the contract, and strategic partners including the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and Booz Allen Hamilton. Now in its fourth program year, the ATI contract value of the HITSP program is $18.2 million.

“We are pleased that HITSP, in collaboration with our partners at ANSI, will further advance health care technology in support of national initiatives,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. “We are proud to see ATI once again deliver assured outcomes for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to bring greater interoperability, financial returns, and efficiency to the health care industry.”

The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.


 

About the Advanced Technology Institute
The Advanced Technology Institute builds international consortia to develop and implement innovative solutions for manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, maritime, metals, energy and healthcare industries.  ATI-led collaborations attract world-class talent from premier companies, universities and government agencies. A private, non-profit research corporation with principal operations in Charleston, SC, ATI is an affiliate of SCRA.  For more information, please visit www.aticorp.org.

About SCRA
SCRA is a global leader in applied research and commercialization services with offices in South Carolina, Ohio and in McLean, Virginia. SCRA collaborates to advance technology, providing technology-based solutions with assured outcomes to industry and government, with the help of research universities in SC, the U.S. and around the world. For more information, please visit www.scra.org.