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Surescripts, the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) announced on Feb. 21, 2011 that they have been awarded a grant by the CDC to connect hospital laboratories with public health agencies to electronically transmit data on reportable laboratory results. The three organizations will work together in what the CDC calls a "Lab Interoperability Cooperative."
During the 2-year grant period, AHA, CAP and Surescripts will recruit, educate and connect a minimum of 500 hospital labs - at least 100 will be critical access or rural hospitals - to the appropriate public health agencies. The cooperative will provide the necessary technical assistance to enable these hospital labs to begin electronically transmitting lab results within 6 months.
The CDC grant will help hospital laboratories meet criteria established by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT for meaningful use of EHRs, including submission of electronic data on reportable laboratory results to public health agencies.
"The CDC is delighted to work with this diverse cooperative," said Seth Foldy, director of the Public Health Informatics and Technology Program Office at the CDC. "As a result of this effort, hundreds of hospitals will engage in electronic reporting that helps public health act more rapidly and efficiently to control disease."
"Today's announcement is the latest example of how Surescripts is expanding its network to support all types of clinical messaging," said Harry Totonis, president and CEO of Surescripts. "Our work with the CDC also carries forward the legacy of the Surescripts network's role in public health initiatives."
"America's hospitals are working to advance the quality of care they provide to patients and communities through greater adoption and use of electronic health records," said Rich Umbdenstock, president and CEO of AHA. "The challenge now is to extend its use and integrate it into the routine care processes in all hospitals, big and small, in both rural and urban areas."
"This Lab Interoperability Cooperative is another example of how the CAP continues to advance meaningful health information exchange in the laboratory and health IT space," said Charles Wagner, vice president, CAP STS (SNOMED Terminology Solutions). "CAP STS specializes in clinical interoperability and systems integration and we're committed to improving patient care."
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