On Interagency Collaboration

InformationWeek on Thursday reported that the Health IT Policy Committee's certification workgroup is considering a partnership with the Food and Drug Administration to develop an electronic health records certification program.

On one hand, workgroup participants suggested that teaming with FDA could improve patient safety, as the agency could provide greater leverage than the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to enforce IT requirements at pharmacies. Potential pitfalls include agency processes that slow innovation. But what does it all come down to?

"Do we want to work with the FDA--that is the fundamental question?" asked Paul Egerman, healthcare software entrepreneur and co-chair of the certification and adoption workgroup.

In developing or improving processes and systems, it often pays to gather input from many sides. However, it's worth considering whether or not the working relationship will bring results, or if collaboration simply means there will be too many cooks in the kitchen.