Physicians' Electronic Health Record Coalition (PEHRC)

In July 2004, 14 preeminent medical organizations, representing more than 500,000 U.S. physicians, created the Physicians' Electronic Health Record Coalition (PEHRC). This groundbreaking health care coalition helps physicians, particularly those in small to medium-sized ambulatory care practices, acquire and use affordable, standards-based electronic health records (EHRs) and other health information technology (HIT) to improve quality, enhance patient safety, and increase efficiency. (View press release.)

PEHRC is committed to taking practical steps to educate physicians about the value and best use of EHRs, to help them select systems, and to focus the market on high-quality and affordable products.

To assist physicians, particularly those in small- and medium-sized ambulatory practices, to acquire and use affordable, standards-based electronic health records and other health information technology for the purposes of improving quality, enhancing patient safety, and increasing efficiency.

The acronym of QUALITY defines PEHRC's guiding principles:

• Quality
• Usabilty
• Affordability
• Long term commitment
• Interoperability
• Trust
• Yield