2013 WEDI Report Released Today – Will Serve As A New Roadmap For Health IT

Ten key recommendations that will shape the next generation of healthcare information exchange.

Recently, the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) Foundation, a leading authority on the use of Health IT to improve healthcare information exchange, in partnership with industry leaders, released the 2013 WEDI Report. The culmination of a nine month public-private effort with more than 200 subject matter expert volunteers, the 2013 WEDI Report will serve as a new roadmap for Health IT over the next decade.

WEDI founder, Dr. Louis W. Sullivan, served as the Honorary Chair of the 2013 WEDI Report Executive Steering Committee and worked directly with healthcare business, association and government leaders to identify solutions that could be implemented quickly and driven by business.

Key Report Areas of Recommendation
The 2013 WEDI Report identifies four critical areas of focus:

• Patient Engagement: consumer (patient) engagement through improved access to pertinent healthcare information.
• Payment Models: Business, information, and data exchange requirements that will help enable payment models as they emerge.
• Data Harmonization and Exchange: Alignment of administrative and clinical information capture, linkage, and exchange.
• Innovative Encounter Models: Business and use cases for innovative encounter models that use existing and emergent technologies.

For more information, visit http://www.wedi.org/topics/2013-wedi-report.

"Like the WEDI Report that I initiated in 1993 that became the roadmap for electronic business solutions for healthcare in the 1990s, the 2013 WEDI Report and recommendations will serve as the roadmap that will lead to greater efficiency and improved healthcare delivery in the years ahead," said Dr. Louis W. Sullivan. "I regarded the implementation of the 1993 WEDI Report roadmap as a civic duty for its time, and it is my hope that the healthcare industry will adopt that same spirit for the 2013 WEDI Report recommendations."

"We are grateful to the many healthcare industry leaders and for the countless hours spent by those that dedicated their efforts to this endeavor," said Jim Daley, WEDI Chairman. "We are excited to share this significant body of work with all healthcare stakeholders and look forward to the report’s adoption and implementation."

"The 2013 Report will help to set a common direction for the healthcare industry as we continue to evolve to greater focus on patients managing their own healthcare information, the movement towards fee-for-value arrangements, and the rise of new payment models and technologies," said Dr. Devin Jopp, President & CEO of WEDI.

About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of Health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards bodies.

About The WEDI Foundation
The WEDI Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to scientific research and education in order to foster the improvement of healthcare. Through its activities, WEDI works to improve the exchange of administrative and clinical healthcare information. Through the success of its work, Americans can rely on more effective and efficient healthcare delivery and improved personal health. For more information, visit http://www.wedi.org/about-us/wedi-foundation#sthash.XC4Fgkdp.dpuf.

With Sincere Gratitude to the 2013 WEDI Report Founding Sponsors: Availity, Juniper Networks, McKesson, RTI International, URAC, Verizon and WEX, Inc.