With the ultimate goal of holistic individual and population health management, HIMSS Europe has presented today the Continuity of Care Maturity Model™, which addresses the importance of information exchange, care coordination, interoperability, patient engagement and analytics. The purpose is to move one step forward in eHealth in the continent, by supporting and complementing existing EMR models to provide leadership and guidance. The presentation has taken place in the framework of WoHIT 2014 which has been held in Nice.
The model has been designed by HIMSS Europe in collaboration with a pan-European workgroup including country teams from Spain, the Netherlands and the Nordics. It comprises 32 individuals representing regional and national health authorities, strategic planning organizations, CIOs of groups or regions, industry and HIMSS consultants.
The Continuity of Care Maturity Model™, measures the readiness of an organization to deliver continuity of care as well as the maturity of a healthcare system in the continuity of care delivery. There will only be a global model but regional specifications are possible within the model's framework.
"This model advocates for the integration, coordination, sharing and usage of information between providers, government, individuals and others resulting in enhanced care delivery and improved patient outcomes," said Uwe Buddrus, senior consultant at HIMSS Europe.
This is a global model, whose target audiences are regional and national health authorities, integrated delivery networks, health management organizations, private care chains and large hospitals with tethered care providers.
A key point in developing the model has been to identify all the categories that needed to be analysed, from IT systems capabilities to patient care coordination, to health information exchange, among many others. Each of these categories can be broken down further into the 8 stages of the model.
"This is the direction the market is headed and we are happy to provide a tool healthcare delivery organizations and governments can use to gauge their progress towards a more efficient care delivery approach," concluded Buddrus.
About HIMSS
HIMSS is a global, cause-based, not-for-profit organization focused on better health through information technology (IT). HIMSS leads efforts to optimize health engagements and care outcomes using information technology.
HIMSS is a cause-based, global enterprise producing health IT thought leadership, education, events, market research and media services around the world.
Founded in 1961, HIMSS encompasses more than 56,000 individuals, of which more than two-thirds work in healthcare provider, governmental and not-for-profit organizations across the globe, plus over 600 corporations and 250 not-for-profit partner organizations, that share this cause. HIMSS, headquartered in Chicago, serves the global health IT community with additional offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
About HIMSS Europe
In 2006, HIMSS began to operate in Europe, offering dedicated programmes for the region, including its flagship initiative, the annual World of Health IT Conference & Exhibition / eHealth week event, organised with the European Commission and other European partners.
HIMSS first opened the European office in Brussels and expanded its educational programmes and initiatives for the region. As of January 2014, the headquarters for HIMSS Europe is located in Berlin, Germany.