Health Information Technology

Health Information Technology (HIT) is the application of information processing involving both computer hardware and software provided primarily for the electronic creation, maintenance, or exchange of health information across medical settings to:

Better coordinate care
Improve health care quality and safety
Increase clinical and administrative efficiency
Improve detection of natural and man-made population threats
Enable research
Provide cost savings

HIT is one enabler for transformation of the U.S. health care system. President Bush indicated his support for the use of HIT in April of 2004 when he called for the widespread adoption of HIT by 2014.

On October 17, 2006, Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order creating the Health Information Technology and Transparency Advisory Board. The Board will advise DCH on the best practices for encouraging the use of electronic health records and establishing a statewide strategy to enable health information to be readily available and transparent. DCH goals for HIT in Georgia are to enable the understandable, universal, timely and secure communication of health information across the public and private sectors for the benefit of today’s health care consumer.

This website was created to provide easy access to a number of health information technology resources. Content on this site will change based on national, state and local HIT activities.

We invite you to visit this site frequently.

National and Georgia eHealth News

Federal Government HIT Resources

American Health Information Community (AHIC)
A federally-charted commission that provides input and recommendations to HHS on how to make health records digital and interoperable, and assure that the privacy and security of those records are protected, in a smooth, market-led way.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
AHRQ plays a key role in the nation's efforts to adopt health IT. A major priority is to disseminate new knowledge and best practices from pioneers in this field.

Talking to Consumers about Health Care Quality

National Committee for Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS)
The mission of the National Committee for Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) is to advise on methods to shape a national information strategy for improving the population's health.

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)
ONC provides leadership for the development and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information technology infrastructure to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare and the ability of consumers to manage their care and safety.

Public Health Information Network (PHIN)
CDC's vision for advancing fully capable and interoperable information systems in the many organizations that participate in public health.

The White House: Executive Order
On April 27, 2004 the President issued an Executive Order for Incentives for the Use of Health Information Technology and Establishing the Position of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Health Information Technology
Health information technology (Health IT) allows comprehensive management of medical information and its secure exchange between health care consumers and providers.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Healthcare Transparency
Transparency is a broad-scale initiative enabling consumers to compare the quality and price of health care services, so they can make informed choices among doctors and hospitals.

Standard HIT Resources

Health Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP)
HITSP is a cooperative partnership between the public and private sectors to identify standards to enable and support widespread interoperability among healthcare software applications.

Health Care Standards Landscape
A repository of information on health care standards, organizations, and resources that can assist in standard development, coordination, implementation, adoption, and use by developers and other stakeholders.

Public Health Data Standards Consortium (PHDSC)
Develops, promotes, and implements data standards for population health practice and research.

Public / Private HIT Cooperative Resources

Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT)
CCHIT is the certification authority for electronic health records and their networks.

Connecting for Health
A public-private collaborative designed to address the barriers to development of an interconnected health information infrastructure.

Final Report: Development of State Level Health Information Exchange Initiatives
The purpose of this project is to gather information from existing state-level HIE initiatives to determine successful governance and legal, financial, and operational characteristics; to develop consensus on guidance for developing state-level HIE initiatives; and to disseminate these findings widely.

State Level Health Information Exchange Initiative Development Workbook: A Guide to Key Issues, Options and Strategies
The workbook was developed as part of the research project under contract with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). The purpose is to develop practice and policy guidance.

eHealth Initiative (eHI)
Develops, shares, and disseminates knowledge, resources and tools to facilitate and support community-based health information exchange.

Health Information Technology Champions Partnership
A public and private initiative to help state lawmakers understand Health Information Technology issues.

Health Information Technology Resources

Health Information Exchange Fact Sheet - Updated 12/18/07
HIT Glossary
eHealth Initiative - States Getting Connected
Framework for a High Performance Health System
AHRQ State HIE Executive Summary
Evolution of State Health Information Exchange
AHIC - Confidentiality, Privacy and Security Draft Recommendations
NCVHS – Draft NHIN Functional Requirements