NAHIT disbands, relinquishes role to CHIME, AHA

After playing a major role in elevating health IT into a leadership issue in the United States, the National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) will cease operation on Sept. 30.

“Going forward, the action is shifting from NAHIT’s focus on educating, advocating and building common ground to planning, implementing and using health IT to improving care, safety and efficiency,” said Jane Horowitz, NAHIT chief operating officer.

“Other organizations are better positioned to help providers with implementation,” said Horowitz. “In particular, the American Hospital Association (AHA) has close ties with hospital CEOs while the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is the leading industry association for chief information officers. These organizations…understand the tremendous value and need for health IT.”

The picture for health IT was entirely different in 2002, when NAHIT was founded by sector leaders from providers and insurers to pharmaceutical companies and industry organizations.