NHIN Needs You!

Dear Google,

The National Medical Software Foundation (NMSF) is a start-up company focusing on providing access to the National Health Information Network (NHIN) for medical professionals through our gateway and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs).  The Federal government has mandated all medical records be made electronic by 2015 or professionals will face financial penalties from Medicare and Medicaid (HITECH). 

Who better than Google, to ensure this nation has first class health care software?  The NMSF would like America to be able to “Google” their EMR.

The medical community is divided over EMRs.  Those that use EMRs could never imagine using “paper” again and look derisively upon those who still do.   They count reduction of errors and ability to share records as most important.  Medical professionals still using paper, you can tell because the red and blue folders are stacked to the ceiling in their office, have a google excuses for dragging their feet. 

There are currently two large players attempting to enter this market.  Sun, now Oracle, is attempting to establish a “National Patient Registry” and “EMR digital warehouse.”  They are also a contributor to the Federal effort to establish a national gateway called “Connect”.  Microsoft is, well, Microsoft.  Mr. and Mrs. Gates are giving billions to other countries, when America needs help too.  Microsoft contributes to Connect also.

The NMSF, in partnership with Google, could alleviate much of the medical community’s fear of a national healthcare network.  Patient records could be retrieved quickly and efficiently within the NHIN.  Medical professionals are currently dealing with changing EMR compliance regulations and the promise of more to come.  They cannot afford to choose the wrong EMR.

The NMSF considers the disjointed status of the NHIN to be an advantage.  New EMR requirements will be published in 2013 and 2015, requiring constant retooling by software companies to stay certified.  Smaller networks will fail to maintain certification, which will force their doctors to seek a new, certified EMR.  There are over 800,000 medical professionals registered with the American Medical Association (AMA).  This is a nascent multi-billion dollar industry, small by Google standards, but well worth doing from a patriotic stand point.

Respectfully yours,

Perk Perkins