HIMSS Analytics introduced a maturity model to measure the technical infrastructure used within a health system, dubbed the "infrastructure adoption model," or INFRAM.
HIMSS Analytics, a subsidiary of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, is perhaps best known for its eight-stage EMR Adoption Model, which measures the degree to which a hospital or health system utilizes its EMR functions. Similarly, the INFRAM will also run eight stages, allowing hospital leaders to map technology capabilities from stages 0 to 7.
"The INFRAM … addresses a longstanding need — guiding healthcare organizations in securely implementing the infrastructure with which their EMRs are built upon," said Blain Newton, executive vice president of HIMSS Analytics. "We have seen health systems engage with advanced clinical applications, only for them to 'glitch' under infrastructure that isn't powerful enough to support their tools."
The model will give hospitals a path to sustainable infrastructure development, identifying benchmarks and standards for organizations to meet before going live with an EMR system. The model is organized around five technical subdomains: mobility, security, collaboration, transport and data center.
Cisco, BlackBerry, Cognizant and Vertitech already have signed on to the program as early certified consultants. HIMSS Analytics will train them on the model criteria so they can assist clients in advancing through the INFRAM's stages.