Epic, Meditech, and Oracle Health are advancing interoperability efforts, driving improved data sharing and connectivity in healthcare.
Here's an overview of their latest initiatives in interoperability.
Epic
Epic is leading the charge toward nationwide health information exchange through the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). In August, the EHR vendor said it aims to have all its health systems committed to TEFCA by the end of 2024, with plans for full implementation by 2025. This shift will allow health systems to more seamlessly share information across networks, further promoting interoperability, according to Epic.
On Nov. 4, the company also went live with application programming interfaces that allow app developers integrating with Epic to be compliant with federal interoperability standards.
"This is just the latest example of the long-standing support Epic has for interoperability," Epic Showroom lead Antonia Papajani told Becker's. "It's a really scalable way for folks across the industry, whether that be our health system partners, payers, EHR vendors like ourselves or other digital health companies out there trying to connect to all do so in a way that's scalable, so we can achieve the vision of seamless data exchange."
Meditech
In August, Meditech launched a new nationwide health information exchange network for its U.S. customers base.
The Traverse Exchange will allow participating Meditech customers to share health data with each other, as well as with organizations using different EHR vendors and exchange networks that adhere to interoperability standards.
Oracle Health
In October, Oracle Health said it intends to obtain the Qualified Health Information Network designation under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, known as TEFCA.
According to the company, Oracle Health has begun the process to achieve Qualified Health Information Network status. With this, the EHR vendor will be able to facilitate seamless and secure health information exchange for its healthcare clients.
TEFCA was launched in December as part of the 21st Century Cures Act mandate. It aims to establish a unified framework for governance, policy, and technical standards, creating a benchmark for interoperability across nationwide health information networks.
Epic, Meditech, athenahealth, and other organizations are already leveraging TEFCA to enhance patient care.