CIOs to RECs: Use Our Expertise

The StateNet initiative of the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives is a network of CIOs who are helping coordinate health information technology initiatives in their states and share best practices.

Now, CHIME and the Office of the National Coordinator have sent a joint letter to regional extension centers across the nation encouraging the centers to reach out to the StateNet coordinators. Funded under the HITECT Act, 60 regional extension centers will provide technical assistance to physician practices and very small hospitals implementing electronic health records and other I.T. applications to achieve meaningful use.

The letter offers to connect RECs with CIOs in their states who have implemented EHRs and have experience in managing vendor relations, optimizing workflows, implementing privacy and security policies and engaging stakeholders. "StateNet is eager to work with RECs across the nation to improve the quality and value of healthcare in their regions," the letter states. "By working together, we can accomplish significant milestones toward building an electronically connected, information-driven system of care."

The letter soon will be available at cio-chime.org.

--Joseph Goedert