AHA urges panel to support data communications standard, rural networks

The American Hospital Association on Jan. 24 urged a Federal Communications Commission advisory committee to recommend that Congress and federal agencies prioritize the establishment of a single standard for health information capture and exchange, and complete the deployment of broadband and wireless networks in rural areas.

In a statement to the Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities, the AHA said, “It is crucial that the JAC recommend policies that will produce a roadmap for the creation of a single standard for the capture and exchange of health care information and completion of the deployment of broadband and wireless networks nationwide. It is also vital that federal policies ensure the interoperability of emergency and medical communications systems and provide for the ongoing maintenance and upgrading of mandated new technology.”