NAHIT name game gives some vendors a headache

In theory, it doesn't make sense to move ahead with major IT initiatives until the industry has at least some clue as to how to define key terms. However, a recent effort by the National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT)--particularly in defining the difference between EMRs and EHRs--seems to be creating as many problems as it solves. Over several months, NAHIT came up with definitions for key terms in HIT, including EHR, EMR, personal health record, health information exchange and regional health information organization. Most notably, as NAHIT defines things, an EMR is a record used internally in a medical practice that can't share information with other practices, while EHRs can do so.

The problem with this is that NAHIT seems to have defined some vendors right out of their marketing position. There are several companies that use the term "EMR" to define themselves, such as NextGen Healthcare Information, and have gotten their interoperability certification from the CCHIT.  If they have to go back and rebrand themselves as an "EHR" they'll be a bit annoyed, to say the least, officials note.

To learn more about the terminology dispute:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)

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