This article was originally published on LinkedIn by Jay Nakashima, President, eHealth Exchange.
Why It’s Time to Rethink Your Interoperability Strategy
Over the last two decades, healthcare has made incredible strides in digitizing patient information. Yet, seamless, secure exchange of that data across systems and organizations has remained stubbornly out of reach—until now.
With the launch of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement™ (TEFCA™), we’re standing at the threshold of a truly interoperable healthcare ecosystem. But understanding where to begin and how to choose the right Qualified Health Information Network® (QHIN™) can be daunting.
That’s where we come in.
At eHealth Exchange, we’ve been building national health data exchange infrastructure long before TEFCA was a reality. As one of the nation’s first Designated QHINs, we’re now helping healthcare organizations from, physician groups to federal agencies, navigate this new era of connectivity.
So… Why TEFCA, and Why Now?
TEFCA isn’t just another framework. It’s the federal government’s endorsed model for nationwide interoperability. And while participation is currently voluntary, that may not remain the case for long. Those who delay may soon risk falling behind as financial incentives and mandates evolve. The new administration is settling in, and momentum is building fast. All healthcare organizations will want to include TEFCA in their near-term IT roadmap.
But Here’s What Many Are Missing:
Not all QHINs are created equal.
While each must meet the same baseline technical and legal requirements, their approaches to patient matching, security, data storage, and exchange models can vary dramatically. Some store patient data, some monetize it, and others—like eHealth Exchange—act solely as a secure pass-through, never storing or using your patients’ information for secondary purposes.
These differences matter.
Choosing the right QHIN isn’t just a technical decision, it’s a strategic one. Your QHIN will shape how (and how well) you connect to the broader healthcare ecosystem for years to come.
A Trusted Approach, Proven at Scale
With nearly 20 years of experience managing a trust framework and common agreement structure, eHealth Exchange facilitates the secure exchange of patient records for more than 300 million patients and processes roughly 25 billion data exchanges annually.
Our model supports federated patient matching, EHR-agnostic APIs, and no vendor lock-in—all while maintaining the highest levels of security and compliance.
Curious What This Means for You? Let’s Talk.
We hosted a live webinar where you’ll hear directly from organizations that have:
- What questions to ask when evaluating QHINs
- Key technical and trust differences that impact long-term success
- How participants have approached connectivity through eHealth Exchange
- Real-world implementation insights from organizations that are live on TEFCA today
Let’s move beyond compliance. Let’s build meaningful, trusted health data exchange—together.
