Jimmie,
Several different subjects in there.
Hospitals are already looking to the communications part of MU2 which they will get from their incumbent vendors. I've had more than one turn up their nose @ Updox because they have their own vendor who is promising their own proprietary solution.
Here are some summary pieces about MU2 & Comms
http://www.ehrdoctors.com/mu2-and-hie/http://emrlogic.blogspot.com/2012/10/mu2-and-direct-messaging-part-1.htmlhttp://emrlogic.blogspot.com/2012/10/mu2-and-direct-messaging-part-2.htmlThe take-away is that the Gov is driving this, and so large institutions will comply.
Updox is already done/doing the work for MU2 (note the direct messaging fields), so AC would be foolish at this point to not leverage Updox's focus on communication for that portion of MU2.
All that said, compliance is a long ways from useful collaboration between Doctors/Providers.
I suspect that the large players will render the minimally compliant product, and it will be up to independent Physicians/Providers to drive real collaboration.
