Several healthcare organizations have announced their intentions to become Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). This move is expected to improve health information exchange and interoperability across the US. Epic Systems, NextGen Healthcare, CRISP Shared Services, CommonWell Health Alliance, and Kno2 are some of the organizations that plan to become QHINs under TEFCA. TEFCA is a common agreement that establishes technical infrastructure and governing approaches for healthcare organizations’ data exchange.
Epic Systems, a leading electronic health record (EHR) vendor, announced on June 16, 2022, that it plans to become a QHIN under TEFCA. The move would enable Epic to connect to other QHINs and support health information exchange across the country. Epic has a long history of supporting interoperability, having launched Care Everywhere, a platform for the standards-based exchange of health information. Dave Fuhrmann, Senior Vice President of Interoperability at Epic, noted that their fundamental goal is to help all patients receive informed, personalized care—regardless of where they go to receive it. Epic has worked with ONC, The Sequoia Project, and the broader healthcare community to build consensus around the standards and procedures of TEFCA.
NextGen Healthcare, a Health IT vendor, announced its intention to become a QHIN under TEFCA on August 15, 2022. NextGen Healthcare supports more than 100,000 providers with its ambulatory EHR and practice management solutions, and one-third of health information exchanges (HIEs) across the country leverage NextGen Healthcare’s interoperability tools. The company’s interoperability work includes NextGen Share, a cloud-based tool that provides access to several national interoperability networks.
On August 18, 2022, Health Exchange announced that CRISP Shared Services, which provides health information exchange (HIE) infrastructure for five statewide HIEs, intends to be the first participant in eHealth Exchange’s anticipated QHIN status. When the period opens this fall, eHealth Exchange will apply to be a QHIN. If ONC designates eHealth Exchange as a QHIN, the network will support nationwide interoperability by connecting to other QHINs.
CommonWell Health Alliance, a health data-sharing network, announced its plan to become one of the first Qualified Health Information Networks (QHIN) in the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). The CommonWell network facilitates the federated exchange of patient information for more than 27,000 provider sites representing 171 million individuals. CommonWell said that TEFCA has the potential to increase the level of empowerment by individuals and their care providers by enabling them to get the data they need to make the best care decisions.
Kno2, a clinical data exchange network, pledged to apply for TEFCA participation as a QHIN on September 7. Kno2 stated that its work with direct secure messaging, Carequality, and many of the nation’s HIEs makes it well-positioned to become a QHIN. The network intends to deliver broad access to all organizations participating in TEFCA. While some QHINs target larger users, Kno2 said it wants to connect and represent the needs of historically overlooked healthcare segments such as post-acute, therapies, EMS, vision, dental, behavioral health, and specialty providers.
In conclusion, the article highlights various organizations that plan to become Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). The move is expected to enhance health information exchange and further interoperability nationwide.
