Patients Gain Control: Epic Enables Direct Access to Medical Records Through New Health Data Sharing Network
Patients in the U.S. are about to experience a major shift in their healthcare journey, as they gain unprecedented control over their own medical records. Epic Systems, a leading healthcare software vendor, has announced a groundbreaking move, allowing individuals to securely release their health data to various applications of their choice. This development marks a significant step towards empowering patients and promoting a new era of data-sharing practices across the nation.
Key Takeaways:
- Epic has enabled patients to securely share their health data with apps of their choice, granting them greater control over their medical information.
- This achievement is facilitated by the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), a federal initiative aimed at standardizing health data sharing practices nationwide.
- TEFCA is designed to bridge the gap in data accessibility by connecting various healthcare networks and providing a trusted platform for secure data exchange.
- This development signifies a paradigm shift in healthcare data sharing, empowering patients to access and manage their medical information in a more user-friendly and secure manner.
Revolutionizing Healthcare Data Sharing with TEFCA
The U.S. healthcare system has historically faced challenges in effectively sharing patient data. Medical information has been fragmented across different vendors, making it difficult for patients to access their complete records. TEFCA, under the purview of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, seeks to address this long-standing issue by creating a standardized nationwide framework for secure data exchange.
Think of TEFCA like a ubiquitous cellphone network, where individuals using different carriers can easily connect and communicate. Similarly, TEFCA aims to ensure that regardless of the healthcare system a patient utilizes, their data can seamlessly connect with other networks.
"The idea was, ‘We really ought to just have that user experience that wherever I am, whichever system I’m using, I know that it’ll connect to every other network, whichever network I’m on,’" explained Micky Tripathi, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at HHS.
The Role of Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs)
TEFCA operates through a network of Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), which are organizations that volunteer to participate in the data exchange process. These networks undergo a rigorous approval process to ensure they possess the necessary technical infrastructure and meet the required standards.
Epic is one of seven QHINs currently live within TEFCA, managing millions of data transactions daily. This signifies the significant volume of data being processed within the network and underscores the transformative potential of TEFCA.
Expanding Access and Promoting Patient Empowerment
TEFCA introduces six "exchange purposes," including treatment, payment, health-care operations, public health, government benefits determination, and individual access services. The inclusion of "individual access services" is particularly pivotal, as it empowers patients to request and access their complete medical records through a single app.
This new feature will enable patients to see their entire medical history, encompassing doctor visits, hospital stays, and various other healthcare interactions, provided all relevant vendors are connected to TEFCA.
"I think it’s going to be revolutionary over the next couple of years," asserted Steve Yaskin, CEO of Health Gorilla, a QHIN within TEFCA. "If you look at every other industry, they’re utilizing data to benefit that industry, right? From banking to telcos to any industry that is deeply rooted in understanding the data."
Epic’s Implementation and Safety Measures
Epic’s implementation of individual access services for TEFCA involved careful planning and consideration to ensure patient safety and data privacy. The company established robust authentication measures, created educational resources to guide patients through the data release process, and implemented accountability mechanisms for apps accessing patient data.
"We think and our community thinks that those pieces are now lined up and TEFCA is the right pathway for this," commented Rob Klootwyk, Epic’s Director of Interoperability.
After entering their Epic credentials to access data, patients will be presented with a patient education screen, outlining the information they are about to release and ensuring their informed consent. This measure further reinforces the focus on patient empowerment and data security.
Addressing Privacy Concerns and Ensuring Data Security
The sensitive nature of healthcare data necessitates strong privacy protections. While some apps are obligated to comply with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), many are not.
TEFCA addresses this by allowing apps to voluntarily participate in the network, agreeing to adhere to HIPAA guidelines. This ensures that patient data is handled responsibly and securely, even when shared with apps that are not legally obligated to comply with HIPAA.
"We say, ‘Hey, we’re not saying they’re a bad group, we just don’t know what their policies are around these. You should make sure that you’re educated and informed before you choose to share this,’" explained Matt Doyle, a software developer on Epic’s interoperability team.
A New Era of Patient-Centric Healthcare
TEFCA aims to create a platform of trust that empowers patients to make informed choices concerning their medical data. Whether patients are seeking to use apps to manage their healthcare or simply desire a convenient way to access their medical records, TEFCA provides the foundation for a more transparent and patient-centered healthcare system.
"This is the next really important step for a patient to be able to access their own information through an application of their choice to be able to participate more directly in their own healthcare," concluded Tripathi of HHS.
While the full impact of TEFCA is yet to be realized, the initial steps taken by Epic and other QHINs signal a promising future for patient empowerment and data accessibility. The widespread adoption of TEFCA across the healthcare landscape could revolutionize the way patients interact with their medical information, ultimately contributing to better healthcare outcomes.
