ATA launches Center of Digital Excellence with health system heavy-hitters

The American Telemedicine Association this week announced its new ATA Center of Digital Excellence, or CODE, which will see the telehealth group working with several major U.S. health systems on innovative ways to integrate digital pathways across the care continuum.

CODE participants will work to drive the development and deployment of new best practices for patient-centered care, equitable access and clinical and operational outcome improvements, according to ATA.

WHY IT MATTERS
The aim of the new initiative is to advance leading-edge digital health tools and services to improve clinical workflows, engage more patients and improve healthcare accessibility, according to ATA.

CODE comprises an alliance of leading health systems, with its founding members including Intermountain Health, Mayo Clinic, MedStar Health, Ochsner Health, OSF HealthCare, Sanford Health, Stanford Health Care, UPMC, and West Virginia University Medicine Children’s Hospital.

Virtual care companies Access TeleCare and AvaSure have also joined as founding sponsors and will help advance CODE’s product development and support its goal to advance digital health technologies across different care settings.

Elissa Baker, RN, ATA’s senior VP of digital strategy and clinical innovation, will lead CODE’s launch and its engagement efforts going forward. Baker will work with the center’s members to help make it a “vital catalyst in reshaping the digital care delivery landscape,” according to ATA’s announcement.

CODE’s member organizations will compare insights and strategies, “contributing to published workflows, success stories, and benchmarks that shape best practices and maturity models in digital care delivery,” says ATA, “helping others develop sustainable and effective models for integrating digital care.”

As the center expands and gains momentum, it aims to add more health systems, clinical leaders and IT companies into the collaborative network. CODE plans to host regular summits and events, and will publish an array of resources for members through ATA’s Member Connection starting in the spring.

It will be accepting applications on a rolling basis, with founding members reviewing and selecting applicants continuously as initiatives are identified. To learn more and submit your organization for consideration, visit the ATA’s Center of Digital Excellence website.

THE LARGER TREND
The ATA has been very busy recently, most notably with its efforts over the past many months to help marshal industry-wide support to extend telehealth flexibilities in a legislative package before they expire at the end of the year.

“It is incumbent on Congress to do the right thing and pass legislation extending telehealth flexibilities for as long as possible, including both the existing Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the critical HDHP-HSA provision that allows Americans to access telehealth services before meeting their deductible,” said Kyle Zebley, executive director of ATA Action, earlier this month. “By acting in the best interest of patients and healthcare providers, Congress can swiftly address mounting ramifications that are already hindering care delivery and ensure all patients receive the care they need, no matter where they live.”

ON THE RECORD
“Telehealth is not an either/or solution but a critical addition to in-person care, addressing gaps where traditional access is limited or unavailable,” said ATA CEO Ann Mond Johnson in a statement announcing the ATA’s Center of Digital Excellence this week. “With these renowned health systems, we are setting the standard for how innovation and technology can enhance, extend, and equalize access to high-quality healthcare for all. Through CODE, we are convening top health systems to establish models that seamlessly integrate digital care into broader care delivery approaches.”

Mike Miliard is executive editor of Healthcare IT News
Email the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.