HIE Rundown 2-16-18

network-200Health Information Exchange (HIE) is happening every minute of every day. Your personal health information is moving and being viewed to improve the quality of your healthcare and lower the costs. The job will not be complete until all health records are digital and interoperable. Here’s what’s happening to make that reality.

Interoperability at HIMSS
HIMSS 2018 in Las Vegas, March 5-9 will have plenty to see, learn, and experience when it comes to health information exchange and interoperability. Here are some highlights to consider.

EMR Direct Receives DirectTrust HISP Re-Accreditation
EMR Direct (@EMRDirect), a leading developer of software for secure health information exchange and provider of Direct Messaging, HL7® FHIR®, and identity services, has received full re-accreditation of its HISP services through the DirectTrust HISP Accreditation Program. DirectTrust (@DirectTrustorg) accreditation has been widely adopted by the industry as the standard for the evaluation of Direct Messaging service providers and is a prerequisite to participation in the nationwide DirectTrust Network.

News from the ONC
Draft Trusted Exchange Framework Comments Deadline Approaching – The deadline to submit comments for the Draft Trusted Exchange Framework is coming quickly! Comments must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET next Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Comments can be submitted to exchangeframework@hhs.gov. For more information about the Draft Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement read the Health IT Buzz blog post: Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement: A Common Sense Approach to Achieving Health Information Interoperability.

Now Available: 2018 Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA) Reference Edition – The Interoperability Standards Advisory (ISA), an interactive catalog of standards and implementation specifications supporting interoperability in healthcare, has been updated following the public review and comment period that ended on November 20, 2017. The 2018 ISA Reference Edition incorporates many of the comments received, and is intended to provide a “snapshot in time” view of the ISA for the new year. Additional changes and functionality improvements are planned for 2018, so be sure to visit the ISA throughout the year.

Spotlighting Interoperability Proving Ground Programs
The Interoperability Proving Ground (IPG) Spotlight project of the week is: AMA Integrated Health Model Initiative (IHMI). IHMI brings together health care and technology stakeholders to enable interoperable technology solutions and care models that evolve with real-world use and feedback. IHMI features a digital platform and incorporates essential data elements centered around function, state and patient goals.

Share your interoperability project by submitting a new project at the IPG or update the status of a project that had been posted within the last 90 days. Once a project is submitted or updated, it will be added to the queue to be randomly selected as a featured project. Learn more about the IPG Spotlight.

News from the Sequoia Project
The Sequoia Project (@SequoiaProject) was chartered to advance the implementation of secure, interoperable nationwide health information exchange. The ONC transitioned management of its eHealth Exchange to The Sequoia Project for maintenance. Since 2012, the Exchange has grown to become the largest health information exchange network in the country.

Kno2’s Alan Swenson Named Co-Chair of Carequality Advisory Council
Kno2® (@Kno2), the company that provides Interoperability as a Service to everyone in healthcare, announced that Alan Swenson, the company’s director of interoperability, has been named co-chair of the Carequality Advisory Council. Mr. Swenson was elected to serve a two-year term on the Advisory Council in October 2017. Carequality is a national-level, consensus-built, common interoperability framework to enable exchange between and among health data sharing networks.

News from the CommonWell
CommonWell Health Alliance (@CommonWell) is devoted to the simple vision that health data should be available to individuals and providers regardless of where care occurs. Additionally, provider access to this data must be built-in health IT at a reasonable cost for use by a broad range of health care providers and the people they serve.

New General Member Announcements: Welcome to the Newest CommonWell Members! Stay tuned in 2018 as they continue to expand their services and membership across the continuum.

News from the Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative
SHIEC (@SHIEClive) is the National Trade Association for Health Information Exchange Organizations. It is routine for important data about patients’ ongoing care to reside in multiple unconnected organizations. SHIEC member HIEs use information technology and trusted relationships in their service areas to enable secure, authorized exchange of patient information among disparate providers. By providing enhanced access to all available and relevant patient data SHIEC HIE members aim to improve the quality, coordination, and cost-effectiveness of health care provided in their communities. Read their news feed.

  • SHIEC Health IT Partner Program Grew Significantly in 2017
  • SHIEC’s Strategic Business & Technology Partner Grows 640% in One Year
  • SA groups launch pilot project linking social factors with patient records

ONC Interoperability Pledge
Companies that provide 90 percent of electronic health records used by hospitals nationwide as well as the top five largest health care systems in the country have agreed to implement three core commitments: Consumer Access, No Blocking/Ensuring Transparency, and Standards. The ONC (@ONC_HealthIT) wants vendors to sign a pledge. Is your vendor pledging? Find out who is on the list.

eHealth Initiative Resource Center
Interoperability Files – Check out the new white paper resource in the eHealth Initiative’s (@eHealthDC) Resource Center: Pulse on the Industry: Interoperability and Population Health Management.