On Wednesday, October 12, 2017 HIMSS released a Call to Action focused on achieving nationwide, ubiquitous, secure electronic exchange of health information.

HIMSS published the Call to Action and guiding principles to inform health policy and spur our nation’s health sector to action. In addition, HIMSS is welcoming other organizations that share its commitment to join them in achieving better health through the best use of information and technology.

The Call to Action was championed by HIMSS's Interoperability & HIE Committee. It was approved by the HIMSS North America Board of Directors on Friday, October 6, 2017.

HIMSS calls on the Department of Health and Human Services and the broader health information and technology community to demonstrate the following leadership:

1. Demand Integration between the Interoperability Approaches and Trusted Exchange Frameworks for the Public Good;
2. Educate the Community to Appropriately Implement Existing and Emerging Standards, Data Formats, and Use Cases to Ensure a Comprehensive, Integrated Approach to Care;
3. Ensure Stakeholder Participation from Across the Care Continuum, Including Patients and Caregivers;
4. Identify the “Minimum Necessary” Business Rules for Trusted Exchange to Enhance Care Coordination;
5. Standardize and Adopt Identity Management Approaches; and,
6. Improve Usability for Data Use to Support Direct Care and Research.