Collaboration

Developing a community-based Electronic Health Record Network has value not only for the individual offices and their patients but for the community at large, provided there is interoperability between the individual offices and other medical entities such as hospitals and labs. Interoperability will only be achieved with extensive collaboration. Successful projects in other communities have been based on strong cooperation, even among competing entities, for a win/win result. We have begun compiling some of the organizations and entities that are already working collaboratively to promote EHR's in Alaska and the United States. By no means is this list comprehensive; we are just starting to build it. Links have been included to websites wherever possible.

The Alaska eHealth Network (AeHN)

The Alliance and Alaska eHealth Network have joined forces in a collaborative effort to provide interoperable electronic health records throughout Alaska. The Alaska eHealth Network is working to provide HIE (health information exchange) throughout the state by developing both the technology and agreements necessary to allow the exchange of electronic health records between medical entities. AeHN has been awarded federal funds from the FCC to design and build a statewide network to tie together the disparate health networks and EHRs to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare in our State. The Alaska eHealth Network is supported by major medical entities throughout Alaska and is currently seeking funding for pilot programs for both the Alliance and AeHN and matching funds for its federal grant monies. AeHN is the State designated entity authorized to apply for federal funding through the HiTech Act to manage a Regional Extension Center in Alaska. The Regional Extension Center will support providers in adopting EHRs by offering technical support, office design, training, as well as education, outreach and communications.