Netsmart announced Wednesday that it has been designated a Qualified Health Information Network under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services' Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy announced the launch of a map patients can use to search for providers that exchange data through TEFCA.
WHY IT MATTERS
The company said the QHIN designation enables seamless data sharing between private and federal sectors across an open and secure network, supporting organizations that deliver coordinated, value-based care.
Participation as a QHIN will help its users comply with federal interoperability mandates because it integrates directly within its electronic health records platform, the company said on its website.
Mike Valentine, Netsmart's CEO, called the QHIN designation a significant step toward delivering whole-person care.
"It creates a nationwide on-ramp for interoperability, expanding the types of data and organizations we can collaborate with," he said in a statement. "This not only enhances seamless data sharing across health systems but also supports our clients’ value-based care and patient outcome goals."
THE LARGER TREND
Netsmart's CareFabric EHR and analytics platform is used by post-acute providers as well as payers and public health agencies managing population health. The company noted it has leveraged Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standards to better connect healthcare providers with public health partners.
In October, Netsmart collaborated with Epic Systems and MedAllies to launch a closed-loop data exchange referral system model.
LifeWorks NorthWest, a behavioral health provider which helped to develop the system designed for Federally Qualified Health Centers, exchanged behavioral health and primary care information with the Portland, Oregon-based OCHIN health information exchange.
"LifeWorks NW has a long-standing commitment to leveraging interoperability and data sharing to drive integrated care models and foster strong partnerships with primary care and hospital partners," Katy Beveridge, who is now assistant vice president and chief nursing informatics officer at Endeavor Health, said at the time.
More than 9,200 organizations have signed up to participate in TEFCA Exchange, according to ASTP.
The 10 TEFCA QHINs represent more than 41,000 unique connections to clinicians, hospitals, clinics, post-acute and long-term care facilities, public health authorities and more, ASTP said Wednesday in a new Health IT blog post announcing a beta version of a searchable TEFCA map.
Using the map, which is powered by TEFCA’s organizational directory, users can search participating doctors by a provider organization name, address or zip code.
ON THE RECORD
"We’ve built a simple, standard model to help our clients to participate quickly and effectively, paving the way for a brighter future in healthcare connectivity," Valentine said in a statement.
Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
