Oracle Health Applies to Become a Qualified Health Information Network
Oracle Health has officially submitted its application to become a Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN) under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). The company’s primary goal in pursuing QHIN status is to enhance patient access to their health records, as stated in a recent announcement.
Enhancing Patient Access
Seema Verma, Oracle Health and Life Sciences executive vice president and general manager, emphasized the importance of empowering patients with control over their own health data. By expanding its interoperability network to support various data types, such as X-rays and MRIs, Oracle aims to facilitate improved health data exchange. This expansion is expected to fuel advanced artificial intelligence capabilities that can inform care decisions, treatment paths, and streamline payments.
Cloud Infrastructure Advantages
Oracle’s move towards QHIN designation aligns with the company’s commitment to leveraging cloud infrastructure for efficient electronic health information sharing. Cloud technology can streamline data sharing processes for providers and payers, offering secure data backup solutions for patient information. Other cloud-based EHR vendors, like eClinicalWorks, have also achieved QHIN status, highlighting the industry’s shift towards cloud tools for enhanced EHI exchange.
Industry Trends
Healthcare organizations are increasingly embracing cloud-based solutions to advance secure health information exchange. Partnerships between EHR vendors and QHINs, such as Meditech’s collaboration with Health Gorilla leveraging Amazon Web Services, exemplify the industry’s focus on leveraging cloud technology for data security and interoperability.
Future Implications
If designated as a QHIN, Oracle Health aims to facilitate secure data access for providers, public health officials, patients, and payers. This access can drive improvements in care delivery, community health insights, and accelerate authorizations and reimbursements. Oracle’s pursuit of QHIN status underscores the company’s commitment to driving interoperability and empowering patients with control over their health data.
Author: Andrea Fox
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.
