eHealth Exchange, one of the nation’s oldest and largest health information networks, is pleased to announce that Jay Nakashima, the organization’s executive director, has been recognized as a DirectTrust Interoperability Hero.
DirectTrust is a non-profit healthcare industry alliance initially created to support secure, identity-verified electronic exchanges of protected health information (PHI) between provider organizations, and between providers and patients, for the purpose of improved coordination of care. Its Interoperability Hero Initiative recognizes organizations, teams, and individuals integral to advancing interoperability across the healthcare ecosystem.
As the leader of eHealth Exchange, Jay Nakashima is forging the path ahead for healthcare by promoting interoperability on a national scale. His leadership led to eHealth Exchange being recognized as one of the first candidate Qualified Health Information NetworksTM (QHINsTM) this year under the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement℠ (TEFCA℠). Through eHealth Exchange’s outreach, a growing number of health information exchanges (HIEs) have signaled their intent to participate in QHIN-based exchange through the eHealth Exchange if designated as a QHIN.
Additionally, under Nakashima’s leadership, eHealth Exchange has grown to include five federal agencies, 60 regional and state HIEs, 75% of hospitals, 85% of dialysis centers, 70,000 medical groups – as well as countless urgent care centers, surgery centers, and clinical laboratories. Data exchange has gone from roughly 20 million to more than 20 billion annual transactions over the eHealth Exchange network. Participants report streamlined disability determinations, simplified health reporting, and reduced time and costs to connect with data exchange partners.
“We’re delighted to recognize Jay Nakashima as an Interoperability Hero,” said Scott Stuewe, president and CEO of DirectTrust. “There’s power in knowing the stories driving advancements in interoperability. We’re thrilled to bring attention to the use cases and successes of the efforts of those meeting the criteria of Interoperability Hero.”
“I am truly humbled and honored to be named an Interoperability Hero by DirectTrust for my efforts to expand connectivity and interoperability between federal agencies and the private sector,” said Jay Nakashima. “It is so very important to me that we stay true to our mission and offer solutions for the public good. The work done over the past few years with electronic case reporting, PULSE, and communication of post-vaccination adverse events has improved patient care and public health. I look forward to the possibilities of expanding standards-based exchange to tackle new use cases prior authorizations, provider and payer exchange, patient access and more.”
Each year, DirectTrust selects nominees to be an Interoperability Hero for their significant contribution in a variety of categories, including fax alternatives, collaboration with others, identity-proofing, organizational efficiencies, and using Direct with other standards and networks (e.g., FHIR, Query). For additional information about DirectTrust’s Interoperability Hero Initiative, visit bit.ly/InteropHero.
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DirectTrust™ is a non-profit, vendor-neutral alliance dedicated to instilling trust in the exchange of health data. The organization serves as a forum for a consensus-driven community focused on health communication, an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards development organization, an accreditation and certification body through EHNAC (the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission), and a developer of trust frameworks and supportive services for secure information exchange like Direct Secure Messaging and trusted, compliant document submission.
The goal of DirectTrust is to develop, promote, and, as necessary, help enforce the rules and best practices necessary to maintain privacy, security, and trust for stakeholders across and beyond healthcare. In addition, DirectTrust is committed to fostering widespread public confidence in the interoperable exchange of health information while promoting quality service, innovation, cooperation, and open competition in healthcare. To learn more, visit: DirectTrust.org.
