Since CommonWell Health Alliance took the stage the first day of HIMSS last year to announce our vendor-led collaboration around seamless interoperability, we have been repeatedly asked – what can you do at HIMSS14 that will exceed the buzz you generated in 2013?
Our answer has always been the same.
Prove it works.
And that is exactly what we intend to do. So, while we don’t want to shed too much light on our updates, efforts and just general cool stuff that we will unveil at HIMSS, we did think it would be fun to provide a sneak peek at what we have been up to during the last year and what you can expect to see more of at our HIMSS booth # 1389.
For the seven founding members of CommonWell, it has been a whirlwind of activity since that Monday in New Orleans at last year’s HIMSS. I am sure you can imagine; it was no small feat to get 7 competitors to set aside their differences and come together. But we did it for a great cause. And I think most of us were surprised at how quickly we worked, how much we accomplished together, and how at the end of the day, we took an enormous step towards accomplishing our shared vision of seamless interoperability nationwide.
Just take a look at our year in numbers:
And even I became a face for interoperability and CommonWell. You see, while in the midst of working with the team, I quickly came to realize that my own personal story was a case study on why health data liquidity is paramount to ensuring the best delivery of health care. If you haven’t had a chance to hear the “Meet Jennifer” presentation, let’s just say that after moving across the country, getting married and changing my last name…all in six months, I am excited for the CommonWell record locator and linking services to be made available nationwide.
So what will you be able to see at HIMSS booth #1389?
Let’s just say, I promise not to share my story with you …unless you really want to hear it. But there will be many others there who can share their story of how CommonWell is delivering on its promise to break down the technology barriers that constrain who can access a person’s health record – with appropriate consent – and provide a more trusted network for accessing, linking and managing access to the right data, to the right place, at the right time.
Hope to see you at our booth #1389! And if you aren’t able to make it to Orlando next week, check back here or watch our @CommonWell Twitter page for updates from the Exhibit Floor.
Jennifer Smith is a senior strategist at Cerner Corporation and marketing chair for CommonWell Health Alliance.