Understanding EMRAM and how it can be used by policy-makers, hospital CIOs and their IT teams.

The Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM)SM developed by HIMSS Analytics has become a universally recognized maturation model of a hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) environment. Numerous health care organizations (HCOs) throughout the world spend significant time and resources to improve their EMRAM standing. Yet, to the health care information technology (HIT) outsider, the value of the EMRAM and the outcomes of the efforts tied to advancing EMR capabilities are virtually unknown. This is a significant concern when efforts around the EMR compete for scarce health care resources. This article purposes to establish the EMRAM as a valuable framework for policy-makers and hospital leaders. To accomplish this end, we begin with a necessarily brief description of the EMRAM process and stages. Our attention will then turn to examples of the model's use and presence throughout the world, before ending on the ERMAM's benefits for varied health care audiences.