ONC to begin NHIN Direct testing at year's-end
The Office of the National Coordinator will start real-world testing of clinical information exchanges between healthcare providers using "NHIN Direct" standards and services in late December or early January, according to the connectivity project's director, who said each pilot will focus on an aspect of meaningful use.
NHIN Direct is a set of technical tools and services that will enable providers to share secure messages, such as patient referrals and care summaries, in one-to-one "push" exchanges with other providers. [NHIN stands for Nationwide Health Information Network.] NHIN Direct project director Arien Malec told the Health IT Standards Committee that draft technical descriptions of standards for transporting messages will be ready next month, and that healthcare organizations are gearing up to test them in seven pilots around the country. A streamlined version of the more robust nationwide health information network standard set, NHIN Direct will offer physicians and small practices the ability to conduct the basic health record exchanges required in the first stage of meaningful use in 2011 requires.
ONC to begin NHIN Direct testing at year's-end