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Oct. 18 - HIMSS & COMCARE Extend EMR Technology to Emergency Response

With the electronic medical record, access to patient health information has been simplified and patient safety and quality of care has improved. Now, two expert associations are working together to improve information sharing about victims and their care, using health information technology to share this information with all those involved in emergency response.

COMCARE Emergency Response Alliance and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society have launched a partnership to improve sharing of patient health information throughout the emergency response process. The affiliation includes a reciprocal membership agreement and the establishment of a joint HIMSS-COMCARE Emergency Response Advisory Board. The two organizations will also work together to encourage the development of software systems that use federally sponsored data standards to share information between the various independent organizations involved in emergency medical response: 9-1-1, EMS, hospitals and others.

“Today electronic medical records do not include important emergency treatment data and emergency responders cannot access a patient’s medical history, whether during a disaster or for a routine call. Until the emergency data collected outside the hospital walls, external data sources, and hospital records are linked,” said Jack Potter, MD, COMCARE’s vice chair, “patients and victims will not be getting the best possible care.”

“HIMSS understands the need to share patient and incident information in emergency situations across 9-1-1, EMS, emergency room personnel, public health officials, ambulatory clinicians, and other emergency responders,” said Pat Wise, RN, HIMSS senior vice president. “We look forward to this partnership with the emergency services community to ensure the best possible patient care during these critical events.”

Source: HIMSS

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