Membership/Service Agreement (Examples)
Links
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AHRQ National Resource Center Health Information Technology
AHRQ and its community of contractors and grantees have developed tools to help health care organizations plan for, implement and evaluate health information technology (IT). These tools describe and recommend strategies for addressing some of the common challenges organizations encounter when working with health IT systems. The tools are freely available, but proper citation should be used when referenced on the Web or in print.
Health IT Tools
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was established in 1989 as the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Reauthorizing legislation passed in November 1999 establishes AHRQ as the lead Federal agency on quality research. AHRQ, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the lead agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost, and broaden access to essential services. AHRQ’s broad programs of research bring practical, science-based information to medical practitioners and to consumers and other health care purchasers.
http://www.ahrq.gov/
American Telemedicine Association (ATA)
Telemedicine is changing the world and ATA is the world of telemedicine. The American Telemedicine Association is the leading international resource and advocate promoting the use of advanced remote medical technologies. ATA and its diverse membership, works to fully integrate telemedicine into transformed healthcare systems to improve quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world.
Established in 1993 as a non-profit organization and headquartered in Washington, DC, membership in the Association is open to individuals, healthcare institutions, companies and other organizations with an interest in promoting the deployment of telemedicine throughout the world. ATA is governed by a Board of Directors, which is elected by the association’s membership.
http://www.americantelemed.org/
Association of Telehealth Service Providers (ATSP)
Association of Telehealth Service Providers (ATSP) is an international membership-based trade non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care through growth of the telehealth industry and promoting the use of telecommunications in healthcare. Its main activities are advocacy, education awareness programs, and business support services. It is a business-oriented group which focuses on providing members with information and tools to facilitate the success of their telehealth activities.
ATSP believes that telemedicine is a practical tool that can improve the distribution of healthcare services to the benefit of both patients and providers.
http://www.atsp.org/homepage.asp
Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL)
The Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law (CTeL) has established itself as the “go-to” legal and regulatory telehealth organization – providing vital support to the community on topics such as: physician and nurse licensure; credentialing and privileging; Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement; and private insurance payment policies.
CTeL enjoys a national reputation as one of the preeminent organizations in the field of telehealth and e-health related issues. In 1995, CTeL was created in response to a need for a legal and regulatory organization that focuses on issues impacting the advancement of telehealth.
Today, CTeL supports health care providers, law firms, associations, universities, insurance companies and venture capital firms that work to overcome legal and regulatory issues related to telehealth. CTeL also offers its members access to legal research and consulting services through CTeL’s membership benefit packages.
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eHealth Initiative (eHI)
For over a decade, eHealth Initiative has served as a neutral, multi-stakeholder organization that helps connect the dots in healthcare and technology. eHealth Initiative’s mission is to drive improvement in the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and technology.
eHealth Initiative is the only national organization that represents all of the stakeholders in the healthcare industry and counts 200 of the most prestigious and influential organizations amongst its members. Our membership is comprised of clinicians, consumers, health plans, health information technology (HIT) suppliers, hospitals and other providers, laboratories, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, pharmacies, public health agencies, quality improvement organizations, standards groups, and health information exchanges.
In 2012, eHealth Initiative is focusing its efforts on innovative technologies that can impact the millions of patients and providers dealing with the deadliest and costliest conditions: cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Mobile technology, accountable care, social media, care coordination, EHRs and meaningful use, health information exchanges and data analytics could all have a great effect on these populations. But, there is very little data and information on which programs work, affect outcomes, and improve care. eHealth Initiative works to research solutions, educate those who can implement solutions, and advocate to ensure solutions are supported by policy and payment reform.
http://www.ehealthinitiative.org/
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Federal Telemedicine News
Covering telemedicine, telehealth, and health IT
http://www.federaltelemedicine.com/
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HPSA’s and Other Maps
Maps provided by Rural Assistance Center
A product of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Initiative, the Rural Assistance Center (RAC) was established in December 2002 as a rural health and human services “information portal.” RAC helps rural communities and other rural stakeholders access the full range of available programs, funding, and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services to rural residents.
http://www.raconline.org/maps/#hpsa
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National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR)
The 1993 NIH Revitalization Act created a National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR) at the National Library of Medicine to improve “..the collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and dissemination of information on health services research, clinical practice guidelines, and on health care technology, including the assessment of such technology.”
The Center works closely with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) , formerly the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR), to improve the dissemination of the results of health services research, with special emphasis on the growing body of evidence reports and technology assessments which provide organizations with comprehensive, science-based information on common, costly medical conditions and new health care technologies.
The overall goals of the NICHSR are: to make the results of health services research, including practice guidelines and technology assessments, readily available to health practitioners, health care administrators, health policy makers, payers, and the information professionals who serve these groups; to improve access to data and information needed by the creators of health services research; and to contribute to the information infrastructure needed to foster patient record systems that can produce useful health services research data as a by-product of providing health care.
http://wwwcf.nlm.nih.gov/hsr_project/home_proj.cfm
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Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT)
The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) promotes the use of telehealth technologies for health care delivery, education, and health information services. The office is part of the Office of Rural Health Policy, located within Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA’s mission is to assure quality health care for underserved, vulnerable, and special needs populations. The 2010 OAT budget is $11.6 million (not including the Congressionally Mandated Programs).
http://www.hrsa.gov/telehealth/
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Rural Assistance Center
A product of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Initiative, the Rural Assistance Center (RAC) was established in December 2002 as a rural health and human services “information portal.” RAC helps rural communities and other rural stakeholders access the full range of available programs, funding, and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services to rural residents.
http://www.raconline.org/
Telehealth Resource Centers
Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs) are funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, which is part of the Office of Rural Health Policy. Nationally, there are a total of 14 TRCs which include 12 Regional Centers, all with different strengths and regional expertise, and 2 National Centers which focus on areas of technology assessment and telehealth policy.
http://www.telehealthresourcecenters.org
TeleMental Health Institute
The TeleMental Health Institute, Inc. is the leading online telemental health training institute, devoted exclusively to addressing the emerging opportunities and challenges of telepsychiatry, telepsychology, online counseling, online therapy and coaching. Whether your interest is in legal, ethical, practical or technical issues, psycho-educational material development and marketing, professional website development or smartphone “apps” for working with colleagues or patients, we offer convenient, 24/7 access to courses for continuing education (CE) and continuing medical education (CME) credit.
http://www.telehealth.org/
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Universal Services Program
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) is an independent, not-for-profit corporation created in 1997 to collect universal service contributions from telecommunications carriers and administer universal support mechanisms (programs) designed to help communities across the country secure access to affordable telecommunications services. USAC carries out its functions as the administrator of the federal universal service programs and universal service fund (USF) under the oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
USAC administers universal service programs for high cost companies in rural areas, low-income consumers, rural health care providers, and schools and libraries.
http://www.universalservice.org/rhc/health-care-providers/
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Wainhouse Research
Wainhouse Research is an independent market research firm that focuses on critical issues in the unified communications and collaboration (UC&C) market. The company conducts multi-client as well as custom research studies for industry vendors and consults with end users on key implementation issues. The firm also publishes a news bulletin, white papers and market statistics, and delivers public and private seminars as well as presentations at industry meetings.
http://www.wainhouse.com