Building a system that would allow us to simplify the exchange of information across the nation would a huge achievement. However, we have been operating without one for so long that we already have several different solutions in place to work around it. At the Civitas Conference, there was a lot of talk about TEFCA and QHINs and what their impact will be on healthcare and interoperability. What do they mean for healthcare organizations and how will they be participating in them? When will they be implemented? Are they replacing current interoperability efforts? Are they real?
We asked a number of experts at the conference to chime in with their thoughts on TEFCA and QHINs. Check out their answers in this video compilation below.
Here’s a quick summary of what everyone had to say in the video:
Deven McGraw, Head of Data Stewardship and Data Sharing at Invitae – It’s not a replacement for Community HIE but I think it’s an essential tool for making sure that there’s nationwide exchange.
Scott Stuewe, President and CEO at DirectTrust – There will be complementary elements that TEFCA won’t handle, like direct secure messaging and unique environment HIE elements that will leave us in mixed model for some time.
Kathryn Ayers Wickenhauser, Senior Director of Community Strategy at DirectTrust – I almost liken it to the healthcare system and medicine. We don’t just have one type of provider, we don’t just have one primary care provider, we also have surgeons and specialists. I think that’s what our interoperability landscape is going to evolve to be and I would like to see us think about TEFCA in that sense.
Michael Gagnon, Executive Director at HealtHIE Nevada – TEFCA is an important step in the interoperability landscape that is happening in the country. It really is the service that will now allow the national networks to communicate with one another but it’s also kind of a limited service.
Allen Abshire, HIT Operations Director at LHCQF – I kind of see TEFCA more as the interstate system and as an HIE being able to offer an on-ramp to the QHINs, to help our participants get on the new information highway for interoperability.
Selena Williams, Outreach and Engagement Manager at HI-Bridge HIE – The framework of TEFCA is scaling around for different organizations to come together on more of a universal level. My main concern is the different QHINs, such as what would be best for our organization?
Huge thank you to everyone who took the time out of their day to come speak with us to make this video possible! And thank you to all of you for taking the time out of your day to read this and watch the video!! We wouldn’t be here without your support and we would love to hear from you as well. Comment down below or on social media with your perspectives on TEFCA and QHINs.
