The exchange of medical records among different hospitals, clinics, and healthcare organizations has always been a complex process. The information is stored in various formats by different vendors, making it challenging for healthcare providers to access all the necessary data about their patients. Epic Systems, a major player in the healthcare software industry, holds records for over 280 million individuals in the U.S. However, patients often have records scattered across multiple vendors, adding to the complexity of data sharing.
In addition to the technical challenges of data exchange, there are significant legal and privacy obstacles to accessing sensitive patient information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that patient consent or knowledge is required for third-party access to their data. Various companies and organizations have attempted to streamline healthcare information exchange, but the establishment of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) aims to bring all stakeholders together in a unified network.
Epic Systems has announced its commitment to moving all its customers to the TEFCA network by the end of 2025. With its extensive reach and 45-year history in the market, Epic’s endorsement of TEFCA adds credibility to the exchange. By joining TEFCA, healthcare providers can securely share patient data in compliance with clear guidelines and permitted purposes. Other networks like Carequality are also aligning with TEFCA to enhance interoperability and prevent potential conflicts in data sharing.
Carequality, an interoperability network that includes Epic Systems as a member, has expressed its support for TEFCA and its efforts to facilitate secure health information exchange. Carequality is revising its policies to align with TEFCA’s definition of treatment, ensuring that data sharing is done for legitimate healthcare purposes. Epic Systems commends Carequality’s decision to follow TEFCA guidelines and pledges to assist customers in transitioning to the new network through Carequality.
With Carequality connecting over 70% of hospitals, 50,000 clinics, and 600,000 care providers, TEFCA presents an opportunity to involve the remaining 30% of U.S. hospitals in secure data exchange. Epic Systems believes that TEFCA will strengthen trust between data exchange networks and healthcare organizations, fostering a more coordinated and efficient sharing of patient information. By embracing TEFCA, healthcare providers can overcome the existing challenges in medical records exchange and ensure better patient care outcomes.
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