The American Telemedicine Association has unveiled its latest initiative, the ATA Center of Digital Excellence (CODE), in collaboration with major U.S. health systems to drive innovation in digital healthcare integration. CODE aims to develop new best practices for patient-centered care, equitable access, and clinical and operational outcomes improvement.
The primary goal of CODE is to advance digital health tools and services to enhance clinical workflows, engage more patients, and improve healthcare accessibility. Founding members of this initiative include Intermountain Health, Mayo Clinic, MedStar Health, Ochsner Health, OSF HealthCare, Sanford Health, Stanford Health Care, UPMC, and West Virginia University Medicine Children’s Hospital. Additionally, virtual care companies Access TeleCare and AvaSure have joined as founding sponsors to support CODE’s product development.
Elissa Baker, RN, ATA’s senior VP of digital strategy and clinical innovation, will lead the launch of CODE and oversee engagement efforts. Member organizations will collaborate to share insights and strategies, contributing to published workflows, success stories, and benchmarks that shape best practices in digital care delivery.
As CODE expands, it plans to add more health systems, clinical leaders, and IT companies to its network. The initiative will host regular summits and events, providing resources for members through ATA’s Member Connection platform. Interested organizations can apply for membership on a rolling basis through the ATA’s Center of Digital Excellence website.
In addition to launching CODE, the ATA has been advocating for the extension of telehealth flexibilities in legislation to ensure continued access to virtual care. Congress is urged to pass legislation that extends telehealth flexibilities beyond the end of the year to support patients and healthcare providers.
ATA CEO Ann Mond Johnson emphasized that telehealth complements in-person care and plays a crucial role in addressing gaps in traditional access to healthcare. Through CODE, the ATA aims to establish models that seamlessly integrate digital care into broader care delivery approaches, setting the standard for innovation in healthcare technology.
