Provide draft feedback: QHINs – TEFCA Facilitated FHIR Implementation Guide
The new document from the Sequoia Project includes guidance on data exchange for Qualified Health Information Networks and participants.
Health data exchange stakeholders have a few weeks to provide feedback on a draft version of a guide to using HL7’s Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard to help meet the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement requirements.
The Sequoia Project, selected by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to serve as the recognized coordinating entity to support implementation of TEFCA, recently released the “Draft TEFCA Facilitated FHIR Implementation Guide.” Sequoia will accept feedback from stakeholders through November 7 and then consider those comments as it prepares the final version of the guide.
On October 18, the Sequoia Project will host a call to review the draft. Registration is now open.
Requirements for QHINs
The draft guide outlines policy, technical and process requirements for Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs), participants and subparticipants to exchange TEFCA information using FHIR.
Marianne Yeager, CEO of the Sequoia Project says the guide addresses such topics as:
- Exchange of authentication and authorization information
- Requirements for patient lookup and matching for all QHINs and participants
- Basic requirements for all FHIR-based exchanges
After it’s finalized, the new guide will be used by “technicians within QHINs and their connections to set the technical requirements and workflows for exchanging information across the TEFCA network,” Yeager adds.
TEFCA’s goals
ONC created TEFCA to facilitate nationwide interoperability as required under the 21st Century Cures Act. TEFCA calls for forming QHINs to facilitate nationwide data exchange among a wide variety of organizations to improve care.
TEFCA will establish a universal policy and technical floor for nationwide interoperability to simplify connectivity and enable individuals to more easily obtain their healthcare information. Under TEFCA, QHINs are expected to be the backbone of interoperability, connecting to each other and to their participants and subparticipants.