News

Adoption of PHRs could save up to $21 billion annually

Anne Zieger — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:22:28 -0500

A new study from the Center for Information Technology Leadership at Partners Healthcare System in Boston has come up with a detailed analysis of how much money interoperable PHRs could save annually.

The study, which examined the costs and benefits of increasing the adoption of PHRs to 80 percent of the U.S. population, found that it would cost $3.7 billion in startup costs and $1.9 billion annually in maintenance costs. However, it also found that it would save up to $21 billion annually. It's worth noting, meanwhile, that most of the savings would go to the payers.

The study was paid for in part by unrestricted research funding from three vendors involved in the PHR market, and partially funded by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society.

To learn more about the breakdown of potential savings:
- read this iHealthBeat piece

Philips announces new 'iPill'

Anne Zieger — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:21:08 -0500

In the not so distant future, patients may come home from the doctor with an "iPill" to go with their iPods and iPhones. The new pill, developed by the Dutch group Philips, is an intelligent pill. Using the microprocessor, battery, wireless radio, pump and drug reservoir contained inside, the pill can determine when it is in the correct portion of the digestive tract to release its medication. In delivering the medication to the right place, a lower dose will be effective and thus side effects can be lowered.

The iPill is currently just a prototype, due to be announced at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists later this month. However, Philips says it is ready for serial manufacturing.

To learn more about the iPill:
- read this Reuters piece

Less than 12 percent of hospitals have even minimal EHR adoption

Anne Zieger — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:18:26 -0500

A new hospital IT adoption survey's results are out, and they are less than spectacular. The survey found that among the 3,000 non-federal hospitals surveyed, less than 12 percent had even minimal EHR adoption, and less than 2 percent had what the surveyors considered comprehensive adoption of EHRs. Article

HITRUST releases proposed security framework

Anne Zieger — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:32:12 -0500

In recent times, we've been telling you about new requirements for health IT security, including a new requirement from the FTC that since healthcare providers are creditors, they need to have identity theft policies in place by next year.

Now, in an effort to make implementing these protections simpler, on top of other security efforts, a group of large healthcare companies is attempting to create a set of security practices that can be standardized. The standards, which were just released in draft form from the non-profit Health Information Trust Alliance LLC (HITRUST), are the work of the nine large healthcare organizations that created the organization.

The HITRUST Common Security Framework (.pdf) includes a broad framework and three separate components. These include an information security implementation manual addressing common standards like HIPAA, NIST SPS 800, ISO/IEC 27799 and COBIT 4.1; a tool cross-referencing HITRUST standards with well known standards and regs from other groups; and a readiness toolkit.

If this looks good to you, prepare to make a big investment, as single-entity licenses are $8,500 and enterprise-wise licenses are $31,000.

To learn more about the new draft standards:
- read this Wall Street Journal piece (reg. req.)

Be the first to comment

Express Scripts clients being extorted, too

Anne Zieger — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:17:37 -0500

Earlier this month, Express Scripts broke the news that someone was demanding an undisclosed amount, claiming that if the pharmacy benefits management firm didn't pay up, they would release about 75 members' personal information. Express Scripts refused to honor the demand, though it did offer the 75 members named free credit protection services from Knoll, a New York-based risk-consulting firm.

Now, some of the pharmacy benefit manager's clients are also being threatened, in letters that are reportedly similar in style to the original demand. The extortionists have reportedly targeted a handful of the firm's clients, including government agencies, unions and employers.

Express Scripts has reported the letters to the FBI and has been working with them to attempt to discover who is responsible. The PBM is also offering a $1 million reward for "the person or persons who provide information resulting in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for these criminal acts."

To learn more about the extortion efforts:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)
- read this CNET News piece

Trend: RFID tracking adopted more frequently

Anne Zieger — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:51:44 -0500

Despite some initial tensions over privacy fears--and the cost of the equipment itself--the use of RFID technology has continued to progress in many hospitals over the last year, to include tracking of equipment, staff and even patients.

Some people fear that this may result in increased privacy concerns for all involved. However, data available so far shows that some hospitals have been able to reduce wait times, and even significantly reduce the number of errors involving specimen bottles.

In some hospitals, the only remaining concern is that the RFID chips and their wireless signals may interfere with medical equipment; in other hospitals that are just installing or considering installing such a system, staff are not sure that they want management tracking them every minute of every day.

To learn more about RFID adoption:
- read this Wall Street Journal piece

SPOTLIGHT: Virtual colonoscopies closer to mainstream adoption?

Dan Bowman — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:25:42 -0500

Despite some major concerns, virtual colonoscopies could become the norm if a federal advisory panel, scheduled to meet later this month, decides health plans should be responsible for paying for the procedure. While virtual colonoscopies have proven just as successful, if not more so than the regular test, at identifying potentially-fatal polyps, the effect of radiation remains a big issue. FierceHealthcare

New Intel device looks to innovate remote patient treatment

Dan Bowman — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:21:13 -0500

Patients looking for a more integrated approach to healthcare from home can now look to Intel to help manage their needs. The Intel Health Guide, which received FDA clearance in July of this year, is a patient-monitoring system with an online interface that allows doctors to keep track of their patient's health needs remotely.

With the tool, doctors can also send patients important reminders and take their vital signs, among other perks, without having to physically be with the patient. Currently, the plan is for the Intel Health Guide to be tested through organizations such as Aetna and Erickson Retirement Communities (to name two), with the emphasis on showing improvements for treating such conditions as diabetes, hypertension and heart failure.

Louis Burns, vice president and general manager of the Intel Digital Health Group, believes that the device is a big step forward in remote care, especially for homebound patients.

"Intel has spent years researching the needs of both caregivers and patients, and we are now moving to launch a series of products that will help extend care from the hospital to the home," he said. "Our products will help address the challenges of an aging population and rising rates of chronic disease."

For more on the device:
- read this HealthcareIT News article

Florida wants MDs to have web access to Medicaid patients' EHRs

Dan Bowman — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:51:34 -0500

Officials in Florida are looking to expand the number of electronic health records for Medicaid patients viewable by state doctors to 2.3 million for this coming year. Currently, doctors can only see their own claims for specific patients (they are also able to submit claims online and check on a patient's Medicaid eligibility status).

According to Christine Nye, director of the Florida Center for Health Information and Policy Analysis (which is part of the state's Agency for Health Care Administration), the AHCA wants to expand on a 2007 pilot program for using web-based EHRs in Leon County. She thinks that the lessons learned from Leon County--mainly on usability issues, such as signing on and displaying records--can be utilized throughout the state. She also thinks that the expansion of the provider portal is particularly important.

"A lot of states are trying to figure out how to do this because it is really important for patient care," she said, "but we're hoping we're going to be far ahead of the other states, and we think we will be."

For more on this issue:
- read this article from Government HealthIT

Arkansas works toward trauma care network

Anne Zieger — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:41:09 -0500

Arkansas state officials are working to create a network around the state to assist in trauma care, and their first step is completed: a new computer database linking their hospitals is now online.

The new database shows which facilities have specialists and also room available for patients. Included in the network are not only the major hospitals in Arkansas, but also The Med in Memphis, TN, and CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, TX.

The database was paid for out of Governor Mike Beebe's (D-AR) emergency fund, in an attempt to get the statewide trauma network started: Arkansas is one of only three states without a trauma network.

To learn more about the database:
- read this Associated Press piece

Case Study: IL hospital tries out wireless technology

Anne Zieger — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:38:35 -0500

Another hospital is jumping on the wireless bandwagon: Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, IL recently deployed technology that makes the entire hospital wireless. Not only that, but it helps organize all the wireless information so that it can be viewed wherever it is needed: at the patient's bedside, on a doctor's desk, or anywhere in the halls through wireless access.

The technology that Methodist Medical Center is using was developed by GE Healthcare. Its executives say that the technology allows a new approach to patient monitoring, in which information can flow from bedside monitors directly into EMRs and decision support systems.

To learn more about the wireless deployment:
- read this Healthcare IT News piece

URAC rolls out new health IT standards

Anne Zieger — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:30:51 -0500

Last week, healthcare accreditation group URAC rolled out "significant" revisions to its HIT standards, the group said. URAC said that it had revised HIPAA standards to put an emphasis on annual work force training, as well as clarifying requirements for notifying consumers of privacy practices. URAC also wants to see accredited organizations conduct risk assessments that include monitoring of portable media such as USB drives and laptop computers. (Given the number of data thefts that have taken place involving removable or portable media, this certainly makes sense.) Article

MDs get 5.1 percent bump for Medicare for e-prescribing

Anne Zieger — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:17:47 -0500

Over the next several months, CMS is phasing in some new incentives for provider IT use which, taken collectively, could potentially result in a nice little boost to their income.

After much discussion, CMS issued a final rule establishing an incentive program paying healthcare providers who use e-prescribing systems. CMS agreed that it will pay doctors and other clinicians in Medicare who use qualified e-prescribing systems an incentive payment of 2 percent of their total Medicare-allowed charges during 2009.

To meet Medicare's criteria, eligible physicians must use an e-prescribing system that can communicate with patient pharmacies, generate alerts about possible adverse events and help doctors find appropriate drugs, as well as lower-cost options to those drugs. The rule will become final by December 29, but CMS will accept comments until then.

The new incentives come side by side with CMS's Physician Quality Initiative, which will be eligible for a 2 percent incentive payment. Meanwhile, CMS will begin paying a 1.1 percent Medicare fee schedule increase under MIPPA.

To learn more about these incentives:
- read this iHealthBeat piece

Related Articles:
CMS offers e-prescribing guide
CMS drops e-prescribing loophole
CMS approves Part D e-prescribing standards
Feds outline Medicare incentive for e-prescribing

Study: Unique patient identifiers could save $77 billion

Anne Zieger — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 01:44:42 -0400

Smarter use of existing technologies could save as much, if not more, on healthcare costs for developing new technology, a new RAND study finds. After all, unique patient identifiers (UPIs) already exist as a technology, and if they are used consistently, they can reduce medical errors, simplify electronic transactions and increase efficiency.

The RAND study also found that there was a potential savings of $77 billion per year if adoptions of UPIs reach a rate of 90 percent. This makes the one-time cost of somewhere between $1.5 billion and $11.1 billion to implement them look like a drop in the bucket.

This is part of a larger vision shared by many of the technology giants. For example, Microsoft argues that when combined with certificates, smart cards offer the cornerstone of a new world of security identities, including smart card-certificate combos, simple enough so that revocation and exceptions are easy to manage.

How much more could we save by implementing simple technologies that already exist, like UPIs, on a widespread basis? The Healthcare Administrative Simplification Coalition estimates that the healthcare industry could cut hundreds of billions of cost from the system if healthcare leaders aggressively cut needless redundancy and unnecessary complexity from the system.

To learn more about the RAND study:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req)

HHS blasts CMS's HIPAA enforcement program

Anne Zieger — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:45:45 -0400

A new report from the HHS Inspector General's has ripped into CMS for doing a bad job of enforcing the HIPAA security rule. In its own investigation, the IG found that when it conducted its own audits of hospital security systems, it found many significant vulnerabilities that could put patient data "at risk high."

Ordinarily, CMS is supposed to be conducting such audits itself, the IG noted. In fact, CMS hasn't done a single security audit since the rule went into effect on Feb. 16, 2006, the IG said.

The IG concedes that CMS has done a good job of setting up mechanisms to receive complaints from the public about security issues, and has also followed up effectively to address the problems brought up in the complaints. But that method alone doesn't do much to protect the nation's health consumers. After all, to date, CMS has received a grand total of 200 complaints since it began accepting them, an infinitesimal number given the number of facilities being regulated.

It seems likely that CMS will have to ramp up its HIPAA security enforcement efforts substantially over the next 12 months. Otherwise, I think that this report could trigger some very unfavorable scrutiny in Congress, particularly once a new administration is in place and everyone's trying to prove they're on top of things.

To learn more about the report:
- read this Modern Healthcare report

Related Articles:
Providers, states still struggle with HIPAA
HIPAA compliance nears adolescence
HIPAA standards move forward
Seattle system will pay $100K HIPAA fine after repeated breaches

Report: More records compromised than previously thought at UCLA Medical Center

Anne Zieger — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 23:00:04 -0400

UCLA keeps having to admit that its medical records snooping problem is worse than it previously appeared. In August, the university medical center admitted that 939 patients had had their records improperly accessed. Now as the state investigation is concluding, they say the grand total was 1,041. The number of workers implicated has also gone up, from 127 to 165.

UCLA says that they have instituted several policies to try to prevent workers from snooping on records of high-profile patients like California first lady Maria Shriver, singer Britney Spears and actress Farrah Fawcett. These new policies include periodic reviews of employees who have access to patient records, and requiring employees to give a reason why they are accessing records as they do so.

Still, when an institution cares for patients with such prominence, maybe some additional health IT protocols unique to such hospitals become necessary. (Call it the "celeb IT treatment.")

To learn more about this problem:
- Read this Los Angeles Times piece

Aetna offers customers access to Microsoft HealthVault

Anne Zieger — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:49:53 -0400

Aetna has decided to become the first health plan to offer its members access to Microsoft's personal health record technology. It will roll out Microsoft's HealthVault in November, offering access not only to patients but also physicians, if the patient gives them permission. What makes this interesting is that it involves a switch from Aetna's existing PHR, which is already available to the company's six million members.

HealthVault is offering Aetna beneficiaries access, not only to whatever health information they load into the PHR, but also to claims information. Patients will be able to access the information even if they change jobs or drop Aetna coverage. However, members won't be able to merge data from the Aetna PHR to the HealthVault PHR until 2009.

Aetna executives say that they think the new PHR will help doctors avoid duplicate tests and errors that come from not having complete health information on hand. Despite its benefits, however, they say that they see this as only an intermediate step between now and the time when the U.S. completes a national health information network. (An interesting bit of candor, given that many backers of PHRs seem to be touting them as the solution to all of life's problems.)

HealthVault has been available for free on the web for about one year. To date, about 40 companies are allowing customers to store information there, including hospitals and CVS Caremark's Minute Clinic.

To learn more about Aetna's plans:
- read this Minneapolis Star-Tribune piece
- read this press release

Related Articles:
Key players agree on PHR framework
AHIMA demands better PHR privacy protections
Addressing ID verification could spur PHR adoption
HIPAA privacy officer job expanding quickly

AHA, Premier back ICD-10 adoption plan

Anne Zieger — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:59:30 -0400

While many industry organizations are up in arms, it seems that the American Hospital Association is ready to back the HHS plan for rolling out ICD-10 code sets within three years. The AHA is joined in its endorsement by Premier, a quality and group purchasing network. The two groups say that the ICD-10 codes would help providers better measure outcomes, monitor adverse drug events and improve industry tracking of public health issues.

Most of the AHA's peers aren't so sanguine, however. The HHS proposal, which would require providers to adopt ICD-10 code sets for electronic health transactions by October 2011, is opposed by several major healthcare industry groups, including the Medical Group Management Association, the American Medical Association and America's Health Insurance Plans. All three have said that three years isn't enough time for their members to make the transition from one code set to another.

Part of the reason providers are cringing over the new proposal is the scope of what they'll have to accomplish. While ICD-9 can accommodate about 17,000 codes, ICD-10 includes more than 155,000 codes, which certainly doesn't make the IT department's life any easier.

To learn more about this issue:
- read this iHealthBeat piece

Related Articles:
HHS proposes 2011 deadline for ICD-10 code adoption
CMS now says NPI must match IRS data
Switch to ICD-10 should be very costly
Doctors, health plans want longer ICD-10 timeline

Aetna contracts with Zix to provide free e-prescriptions in NJ

Anne Zieger — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:18:51 -0400

After running e-prescribing pilot programs since 2005 in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, it now seems that Aetna is ready to take the next step in at least one of those states. The health plan has signed a three-year contract with Zix, which will provide more than 1,000 small private-practice doctors in northern New Jersey with electronic prescribing devices and software free of charge. The deal will affect about 40,000 Aetna members.

The technology vendor, which describes itself as offering both hosted services for email encryption and e-prescribing, will give the practices an e-prescribing device offering them the ability to submit prescriptions to pharmacies. It also offers a wireless network that can be used to transmit the data, secure extraction and load patient data into the system, and a handheld PDA for physicians in addition to a standard desktop installation. Zix is also providing health plan formulary and drug interaction information.

This development comes in the wake of the Senate proposing incentives to encourage Medicare doctors to use e-prescription technology.

To learn more about Aetna's contract with Zix:
- read this iHealthBeat piece

Study: Unique patient identifiers could save $77 billion

Anne Zieger — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:05:05 -0400

Smarter use of existing technologies could save as much, if not more, on healthcare costs for developing new technology, a new RAND study finds. After all, unique patient identifiers (UPIs) already exist as a technology, and if they are used consistently they can reduce medical errors, simplify electronic transactions and increase efficiency.

To learn more about the RAND study:
- read this iHealthBeat piece

Health IT research money may be getting sparser

Anne Zieger — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:08:06 -0400

With the economy tightening, the money available to Health IT researchers was already getting tighter. But when you take into account that government spending on research was about to start decreasing in the coming year anyway, and that private funding will probably be a bit more sparse because of the economy, it makes the future of Health IT research even harder to predict. While most people in the healthcare industry agree that health IT is important, there is some argument about how important it really is; those arguments could also hurt the chance of research in this area getting the money it needs to keep moving forward at the same rate. Article

Hospitals in CA increase monitoring of ICU patients through teleradiology systems

Zachary Brennan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:26:09 -0400

More than six hospitals in California increased the monitoring of their patients in ICUs through outsourced teleradiology systems. Officials said the systems can expedite treatment and relieve some of the pressure on their ER physicians. Article

Study: CMS code changes will increase costs

Zachary Brennan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:21:42 -0400

CMS' proposed upgrades to the current International Classification of Disease codes, or ICD-9, will be more expensive to implement than expected, according to a study commissioned by Nachimson Advisors.

The study found that the cost of upgrading to the new codes, called ICD-10, for a 10-physician office will be more than $285,000. Nine associations of providers and the American Academy of Professional Coders called for the upgrade deadline to be extended, but the American Health Information Management Association said postponing the deadline for the upgrades will only increase costs.

The current deadline for adopting the new codes is Oct. 1, 2011, and CMS will accept comments on the proposed changes through Oct. 21.

For more:
- check out this Government HealthIT story
- read the Nachimson Advisors' study

MI to e-connect 15,000 doctors statewide

Zachary Brennan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:14:48 -0400

The Michigan State Medical Society has worked out a deal with Covisint that will allow 15,000 of its physicians to connect to each other via an electronic network for free.

The online system will allow the doctors to use e-prescriptions and communicate safely about patients with each other, as well as check lab reports and patient schedules online. But the doctors will pay monthly subscription fees to Covisint for other services, such as accessing patients' EMRs.

The system will launch in January 2009 and connect the state's nine regional health information organizations.

To learn more about the deal:
- read this Detroit Free Press article
- check out this Lansing State Journal story
- here's an article from the Chicago Tribune

Report: NYC IT investments reap progress

Zachary Brennan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:03:13 -0400

An investment of about $100 million over 10 years in IT systems at New York City's public hospitals and clinics has improved levels of quality care and their former systems, according to a new report from the Commonwealth Fund.

The conglomerate of health facilities, called the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, is the largest municipal health system nationwide. In 1991, the corporation implemented an EMR system to connect all of its clinical information and physicians, as well as to "increase the reliability of care," according to the report.

For more information:
- here's the Government HealthIT article
- read the Commonwealth Fund's report

Obama, McCain spar over healthcare, health IT plans

Zachary Brennan — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:11:31 -0400

At the final presidential debate last week, Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL) both debated the differences between their health care plans, with both saying that health IT will be a catalyst in reforming the U.S. health system.

McCain said he will work to lower the cost of healthcare through the widespread implementation of IT, similar to the way that health IT has been adopted by the Veterans Administration. Obama also said health IT would lower healthcare costs, and that he would propose to use more federal funds to expand the adoption of health IT.

But neither candidate revealed any more details during the debate in terms of how IT would impact the industry. Earlier this month, Obama said that he would invest $10 billion per year over five years to help doctors adopt EMRs.

To learn more:
- read this InformationWeek blog
- check out this HealthcareIT News story
- read Obama's healthcare plan
- read McCain's plan

Microsoft, partners plan 20-year genetics project

Anne Zieger — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:58:37 -0400

Here's the dawn of what could be the next model for health IT projects: Microsoft, Scripps Health, Affymetrix and Navigenics are launching a project that will offer genetic scans for up to 10,000 employees of the Scripps Health System, plus their family and friends, and measure changes in their behavior over a 20-year period. Researchers will use health IT to track both medical and psychological changes and see if they can be linked to common genetic variations. Article

CMS offers e-prescribing guide

Anne Zieger — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:01:14 -0400

This week, CMS issued its own guide to e-prescribing, including one section addressed to office-based clinicians new to e-prescribing and the other helping office-based clinicians who already understand the technology and hope to implement it soon. The publication, "A Clinician's Guide to Electronic Prescribing," was released at CMS's National E-Prescribing Conference.

CMS has gradually been throwing its weight behind e-prescribing over the past couple of years. For one thing, in mid-2007 it eliminated a regulatory loophole allowing providers and pharmacies to fax prescriptions rather than send them electronically and approved Part D e-prescribing standards.

More recently, the agency rolled out a new set of e-prescribing incentives and penalties, offering Medicare bonuses to physicians who adopt the technology through 2013 and steadily larger Medicare reimbursement cuts to those who don't through 2014.

To learn more about the guide:
- read this Heathcare IT News article
- read the CMS report (.pdf)

Study: Hospital execs say IT can help poor patient flow

Anne Zieger — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:47:27 -0400

The following is your basic vendor-driven study, but the conclusions are still hard to dispute. A new survey backed by patient flow and tracking software vendor StatCom has concluded that 89 percent of hospital execs are reporting poor patient flow at their facilities, and that most think IT solutions are the best way to address the problem.

StatCom, which interviewed more than 200 healthcare executives, found that execs saw hospital-wide patient flow systems as having the best potential to improve patient throughput, followed by emergency department trackers, bed trackers and departmental solutions.

On the other hand, hospitals are not adopting such systems whole hog. The study found that 56 percent of healthcare executives don't have a patient flow system in place, and that 94 percent are incorporating manual process improvements to boost patient flow instead. However, it also found that 67 percent expect to invest in patient-tracking technology. Other priorities mentioned included facilities expansion (43 percent) and hiring more nursing staff (35 percent).

So, with so many hospital execs suggesting that whole-hospital patient flow technology is important, why is adoption relatively low? Our guess is that it's just too expensive for many facilities.

To learn more ab out the study:
- read this Healthcare IT News piece

Related Articles:
Case study: KY hospital ED cuts patient wait times with EMR
SPOTLIGHT: Discharging inpatients pre-noon can improve ED flow
Why EDs need urgent care services

New HIE to span 12 European countries

Anne Zieger — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:52:33 -0400

Here at FierceHealthIT, we usually report on projects taking place in the United States, but this one was so large, we couldn't resist giving you an update. With support from the European Commission, a three-year health data sharing project involving a group of 12 European countries is taking place that hopes to accomplish a level of large-scale health sharing that has still eluded us in the U.S. The countries have launched the European Patient Smart Open Services (epSOS) project, which works to create interoperability between national e-health systems in the participating countries.

Every country involved already has its own system of storing healthcare information, and the systems typically can't share information. Now, however, the countries are hoping to build a system akin to the planned National Health Information Network underway in the U.S. Patent summaries and e-prescription services are already in place in some countries, but even those aren't universally available or shareable.

To learn more about the project:
- read this Healthcare IT News piece
- review the epSOS site

Related Articles:
HHS awards $22.5M in NHIN contracts
NHIN, RHIOs and all that