The eHealth Exchange https://ehealthexchange.org is the oldest and one of the largest health information networks in the country. The exchange active in all 50 states and used by 75% of all U.S. hospitals, is the principal network connecting federal agencies and non-federal organizations which enables them to work together to improve patient care and public health.
Jay Nakashima as Executive Director of the eHealth Exchange has grown the network 26% annually even as vendor-controlled national networks entered the market. These successes come as he oversaw a number of key initiatives that includes:
- Improved network architecture—eHealth Exchange recently announced their new gateway technology that simplifies connectivity for participants via a single connection to the nation. Benefits to members include reduce information sharing expense, further expansion of their national footprint, and faster implementation of innovative capabilities such as real-time content quality validation and a national record locator service
- PULSE connectivity—The Patient Unified Lookup System for Emergencies (PULSE) is a nationwide health IT disaster response platform that allows disaster workers to query and view patient documents from all connected healthcare organizations. eHealth Exchange provides the connectivity for the initiative, which provides a national infrastructure backbone for local response
- Work with opioids—The eHealth Exchange is transmitting opioid data among providers via health information exchanges into clinical EHR workflows. The organization is also using FHIR to share data from state prescription drug monitoring programs also available inside EHRs
- Advanced directives—A partnership with ADVault allows eHealth Exchange to integrate advance care directives, alongside clinical information that is shared with providers. This reduces the burden health organizations face in trying to get this critical information directly from patients or their caregivers during times of crisis. This is important during the pandemic as patients are often alone and may be unable to speak
- Electronic case reporting—The COVID-19 pandemic shined a spotlight on the previous digital disconnect between healthcare systems and public health agencies. The eHealth Exchange moved quickly with the Association of Public health Laboratories to power electronic automated case reporting to local, state and national agencies such as CDC. The new capabilities now in beta will provide connectivity for providers in the upper northwest and will be rolled out soon to be used for a reportable disease or condition, not just COVID-19
Jay Nakashima reports, “We are pleased with our progress but still have some big goals for the future. Many of the strategic investments we have made are with an eye to ONC’s Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which is still under development.”
He continues to say, “A priority for the eHealth Exchange is preparing now to apply to become a Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN) of the TEFCA when the opportunity comes in the next year or so. We intend to become one of the approved “on ramps” for our existing network participants and attract new participants who need such a connection.”