Decoding Interoperability: TEFCA and National Networks and Frameworks Explained

With the foundation of The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), healthcare is poised to enter a new era of communication and collaboration.  

The HIMSS Interoperability Committee, which focuses on advancing standards-based interoperability and emerging health information technologies that lead to impactful health information exchange, has developed several resources demystifying TEFCA, explaining the development of National Networks and Frameworks and envisioning possible outcomes for the implementation of these tools. 

• eBook: Understanding National Interoperability Frameworks and Networks 
  HIMSS’s Interoperability Committee delivers a look both backward and forward from its unique vantage point to briefly document how healthcare arrived at this point and where these new tools might lead. 
• Webinar: Interoperability: Understanding National Frameworks and Networks 
  Leaders and major industry players from Sequoia Project, Civitas, Carequality and DirectTrust deliver the need-to-know info about the different interoperability Frameworks/Networks and how they function. Steve Posnack, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Deputy National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, moderates the discussion. 
• Whitepaper: Preparing for a World of National Networks and Frameworks 
  Designed for beginner users and clinicians who may not be as familiar with National Networks and Frameworks, this whitepaper gives an overview of the evolution of the exchange of information in the American healthcare system over the past 60 years and expert analysis on what comes next. 
• Webinar, part one: Preparing for a World of National Frameworks and Networks – Part 1: Data Exchange and Interoperability 
• Webinar, part two: Preparing for a World of National Frameworks and Networks – Part 2: Communication and Coordination 

Actively practicing clinicians discuss their perspectives and unique challenges regarding interoperability while practicing. Get to know the current state of different healthcare constituents’ use and understanding of interoperability 

TEFCA is a national framework championed by the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and it represents the next evolution in interoperable healthcare delivery.  

Interoperability is vital to making healthcare information secure and accessible, and it also helps lower costs and increase quality of care. 

Trust frameworks, developed in other industries such as financial services and telecommunications, support cross-network data sharing and workflows. Frameworks, such as DirectTrust, Carequality and TEFCA, provide networks with specific governance, guidelines and accreditation to exchange electronic protected health information. 

TEFCA aims to create a single “on-ramp” to nationwide connectivity for patients, providers and all authorized healthcare constituents, simplifying the process of sharing health information privately, securely and efficiently. It represents the collective ambition to achieve an interconnected health system where data informs care at the point of service and contributes to a larger ecosystem of health intelligence that benefits all. 

While celebrating the strides made, it's important to remain mindful of prevailing challenges. Barriers in electronic health data sharing, fragmented health information exchanges and the evident gaps in health IT incentives underscore the work that lies ahead.  

A collective approach is pivotal, accentuated by ambition to prioritize information dissemination, uphold technology standards and ardently support health equity.