Successor to AHIC establishes board
The AHIC Successor, a public-private entity, has established a board of directors to lead its efforts to accelerate the adoption of an interoperable health information system in the United States.
The American Health Information Community (AHIC) was established to unite the public and private sectors in a cooperative effort to provide Health and Human Services Department Secretary Michael Leavitt with recommendations to accelerate the adoption of health IT. A primary focus of the federally chartered advisory committee has been on giving advice on the creation of common standards to allow for different systems to interact and exchange information in a system that ensures confidentiality, privacy and security for patients.
The existing AHIC will complete its work by the end of the year, according to the agency.
AHIC Successor will establish itself in the private sector, while maintaining public representation. The 15 members of AHIC Successor board of directors represent a range of stakeholders from the healthcare and IT communities, including healthcare providers, insurers, public health departments, employers, healthcare quality improvement organizations and two consumer representatives.
“I enthusiastically support the new board and look forward to working in partnership with AHIC Successor to move the nation toward an effective, nationwide health information system,” Leavitt said.
To demonstrate the commitment of the federal government to the new organization, Leavitt and Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake will serve as federal liaisons to the board. The National Coordinator for Health IT, Robert M. Kolodner, MD, will continue to coordinate federal input into the public-private process.
The American Health Information Community (AHIC) was established to unite the public and private sectors in a cooperative effort to provide Health and Human Services Department Secretary Michael Leavitt with recommendations to accelerate the adoption of health IT. A primary focus of the federally chartered advisory committee has been on giving advice on the creation of common standards to allow for different systems to interact and exchange information in a system that ensures confidentiality, privacy and security for patients.
The existing AHIC will complete its work by the end of the year, according to the agency.
AHIC Successor will establish itself in the private sector, while maintaining public representation. The 15 members of AHIC Successor board of directors represent a range of stakeholders from the healthcare and IT communities, including healthcare providers, insurers, public health departments, employers, healthcare quality improvement organizations and two consumer representatives.
“I enthusiastically support the new board and look forward to working in partnership with AHIC Successor to move the nation toward an effective, nationwide health information system,” Leavitt said.
To demonstrate the commitment of the federal government to the new organization, Leavitt and Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake will serve as federal liaisons to the board. The National Coordinator for Health IT, Robert M. Kolodner, MD, will continue to coordinate federal input into the public-private process.