Michelle McNickle, of HealthcareITNews.com recently posted an article that discusses the EHR Industry's need to develop into a more patient-centered business model, which is becoming a popular trend.\

According to software analyst, Shahid Shah, "The new 'patient team' business models, like ACOs, will require that EHRs mature into real-time care coordination and collaboration platforms that can hep move organizations from basic independent are into accountable care."

So, how do EHRs become patient oriented? Shah says it isn't just about "patient messaging and simple health record sharing." To make an EHR truly patient-centered there are 5 steps to be considered:

1. Independent Care: Individuals or separate organizations provide much of the patient care. 

2. Connected Care: Organizations begin share enough information to begin basic patient care collaboration, like sharing patient charts electronically or sending messages about patient care between organizations. 

3. Coordinated Care: Enough patient data is connected, so that it will allow multiple organization to coordinate their care between each other through case tracking and management for simple tasks, such as identifying health risks. (Shah)

4. Integrated Care: Multiple organization share data resources between each other, almost as fluidly as if they were a single organization without boundaries.

5. Accountable Care: Such a high level of patient collaboration. that groups of firms become accountable for outcomes and costs together as a team.

For full story: healthcareitnews.com