Patients Gain More Control Over Their Medical Records as Epic Enables Data Sharing
It’s about to get a lot easier for patients in the U.S. to access their own medical records. Health-care software vendor Epic Systems announced on Thursday that individuals will be able to securely release their health data to different apps of their choosing, meaning they will have more control over their medical information than ever before. This development represents a major technological leap for the health-care sector and signals the beginning of a new standard of data-sharing practices across the nation.
Key Takeaways:
- Patients can now easily share their medical records with apps they use for health coaching, medication reminders, and other health-related purposes, directly from their Epic accounts.
- This new capability is made possible through the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), a federal initiative aimed at facilitating secure nationwide health data sharing.
- TEFCA acts as a bridge between different health information networks (QHINs), allowing seamless data exchange between various healthcare providers and systems.
- Epic’s announcement marks a significant step towards achieving the goals of TEFCA, which aims to break down data silos and give patients greater control over their health information.
Breaking Down Data Silos and Empowering Patients
For years, healthcare data in the U.S. has been fragmented and difficult to access. Clinics, hospitals, and health systems often store information in disparate formats and across various vendors, creating a patchwork of data that makes it challenging for patients to obtain a comprehensive view of their health records. This has resulted in situations where patients moving to a new state or visiting a different hospital might find their medical history unavailable.
Several private sector companies and information exchange networks have emerged in an attempt to address this issue, but a cohesive nationwide solution has remained elusive. TEFCA was conceived to overcome these challenges by providing a standardized framework for secure and reliable health information exchange.
TEFCA can be envisioned like a communication network for healthcare data, similar to how different mobile phone carriers connect users across networks. This means that regardless of the healthcare provider or system a patient uses, their data can be accessed securely and seamlessly across different networks participating in TEFCA.
Connecting the Pieces: QHINs and a New Era of Patient Access
Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) are the organizations that participate in health data exchanges through TEFCA. These networks, which operate on a volunteer basis, undergo a rigorous approval process to ensure they meet the necessary technical standards and legal requirements.
Currently, seven QHINs, including Epic, are operational within TEFCA, with others nearing completion. To illustrate the scale of this initiative, Epic’s network facilitates over 10 million to 12 million data transactions daily.
TEFCA mandates that QHINs support six exchange purposes: treatment, payment, health-care operations, public health, government benefits determination, and individual access services. While most existing networks have supported "treatment" exchanges (requests for health data for patient care), TEFCA introduces new pathways enabling broader data sharing, potentially mitigating disagreements over what constitutes "treatment."
The "individual access services" exchange purpose is particularly transformative. Patients can now readily request and aggregate all their records within a single app, granting them a comprehensive view of their medical history. This means patients can access their complete history of doctor visits, hospitalizations, and other relevant medical information, fostering greater transparency and control.
Epic’s Implementation: A Case Study in Patient-Centric Data Sharing
Epic’s recent announcement represents a major step forward in empowering patients to control their data. By supporting the "individual access services" pathway within TEFCA, Epic enables individuals to securely release their health information to third-party apps.
The implementation process was carefully designed to prioritize patient privacy and security. Patients will be guided through a patient education screen when attempting to release their data to an app, ensuring they understand the information they are disclosing and are comfortable with the process. This approach addresses concerns about potential misuse of sensitive health information.
To further safeguard patient data, TEFCA encourages apps to participate in the network even if they are not legally obligated to comply with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). This means that QHINs like Epic can inform users about an app’s HIPAA compliance status and whether it is part of the federally endorsed data exchange network. This transparency ensures that patients can make informed decisions about sharing their health information with third-party apps.
The Future of Health Data: A New Era of Transparency and Control
TEFCA’s vision is to establish a foundation of trust for healthcare data exchange, empowering both patients and healthcare providers. By facilitating seamless data sharing between different networks, TEFCA eliminates data silos and gives patients greater control over their health information.
Epic’s implementation of the "individual access services" pathway signals a significant step towards realizing this vision. This development will likely accelerate the adoption of patient-centric apps and services, enabling individuals to actively participate in their healthcare decisions and manage their health information more effectively.
While it may take some time for the full benefits of TEFCA to be realized, the initiative holds immense potential to transform healthcare data sharing. The framework is already making a tangible impact by empowering patients with greater access and control over their medical information, paving the way for a more transparent and patient-centered healthcare system.