RHIO Wiki launched today by three national organizations
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Karla Hurter Megan Meehan Anne Wizauer |
April 11, 2006 |
Center for Health Transformation, CHIME and eHealth Initiative partner on eHealth project designed to advance knowledge of health information exchange
April 11, 2006, Washington, D.C. Three leading organizations promoting health information exchange will use a uniquely Web-inspired phenomenon to advance their common cause. The site sponsor is McKesson.
Today, the Center for Health Transformation, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) and the eHealth Initiative (eHI) announced the launch of the RHIO Wiki, a Web-based, interactive information site of interest to the wide range of stakeholders involved in health information exchange initiatives, often referred to as Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs). The launch will be announced today at eHI's Third Annual Connecting Communities Learning Forum in Washington, D.C. by Newt Gingrich, founder of the Center for Health Transformation during his keynote address.
The RHIO Wiki is the only online, real-time clearinghouse of ideas, information and solutions for those working with health information exchanges, said David Merritt, project director at the Center for Health Transformation. This unique, grassroots forum is the result of the powerful collaboration between CHT, CHIME, and eHIwhich is unparalleled in its visibility, credibility, and expertise.
Like the widely-accessed Wikipedia site, the RHIO Wiki allows any user to freely create and edit the content. The RHIO Wiki is dedicated to health information exchange topics, and each of the participating organization is supplying initial content for the site. Users can also read or add content, keep up to date via the site's Current Events page, easily view recent changes to pages, and upload entire files onto the RHIO Wiki. The site can be accessed at http://www.rhiowiki.com.
The RHIO Wiki will serve as a focal point for the interaction about the important new emergence of RHIOs in the United States, said Richard A. Correll, president and chief executive officer of CHIME and executive director of the CHIME Foundation. Chief information officers are taking leadership positions in RHIOs being formed across the country. This will be a useful new vehicle for information and networking about RHIOs.
This RHIO Wiki is designed to educate and provide a voice to the many stakeholders in healthcare information exchange-- clinicians, employers, health plans, suppliers, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, patients, and public health agencies.
This is an easily accessible tool for community leaders to collaborate and learn more as our knowledge advances in this area, said Janet Marchibroda, eHIs chief executive officer. In real-time, users can update information and add their own experiences in this rapidly evolving environment and it will inform the work of each of our organizations.
The RHIO Wiki will allow users to search a virtual information library on local and regional efforts, as well as communicate their questions, challenges, expertise and ideas.
"Our experience and that of our customers tells us that hospitals and health systems are well positioned to lead the collaborative effort towards health information exchange, said Marjorie Rodell, vice president, solution line manager, Horizon infrastructure, McKesson Provider Technologiesm a business unit of McKesson Corp. We're pleased to help facilitate a dialogue on the various models which use adoption of information technology to transform healthcare."
The RHIO Wiki offers the unique ability to provide an ongoing dialogue as the topic matures, Correll said. It offers all participants the opportunity to be a part of the ongoing development of the knowledge base.
The ability to edit RHIO Wiki content and participate in the discussion forums will first be available to members of CHT, CHIME, and eHI. The general public will not have this functionality until this summer, but can view the Wiki and all of its content now.
About the Center for Health Transformation
The Center for Health Transformation is a collaboration of public and private sector leaders dedicated to the creation of a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and saves money. For more information, visit www.healthtransformation.net.
About CHIME
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) was formed with the dual objectives of serving the professional development needs of healthcare CIOs and advocating the more effective use of information management within healthcare. CHIME's events and activities were designed to reflect that purpose, including CIO-oriented surveys, education programs, and networking activities. With membership of over 1,000 CIOs, CHIME has established itself as the premier organization serving the needs of healthcare CIOs. CHIME's educational initiatives are supported by the CHIME Foundation, a group of 54 providers of healthcare IS products and services. To learn more about CHIME and the CHIME Foundation, see www.cio-chime.org.
About eHealth Initiative and its Foundation
The eHealth Initiative and its Foundation are independent, non-profit affiliated organizations who engage the multiple stakeholders in healthcare, including clinicians, employers, health plans, healthcare IT suppliers, hospitals, laboratories, patient groups, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, pharmacies, and public health agencies, to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology. For more information, go to http://www.ehealthinitiative.org.
About McKesson Corporation
McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK), currently ranked 16th on the FORTUNE 500, is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes and improving the quality and safety of patient care. Over the course of its 173-year history, McKesson has grown to provide pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply management across the spectrum of care; healthcare information technology for hospitals, physicians, homecare and payors; hospital and retail pharmacy automation; and services for manufacturers and payors designed to improve outcomes for patients. For more information, go to www.mckesson.com.
