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Epic Systems, a leading healthcare software provider, announced on Friday, August 16, that it plans to transition all of its customers to a new government-backed medical records exchange by the end of next year.
This change will affect thousands of hospitals and clinics across the United States that depend on Epic's technology to manage patient data.
Epic Systems to Use TEFCA to Secure Nationwide Patient Data Sharing
According to NBC New York, the new system known as the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) was developed with Epic's help. TEFCA was made to create a secure and standardized way to share patient information among different healthcare providers. This will make it easier for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to access the information they need to provide the best care to their patients.
TEFCA was officially launched in December, and Epic has set an ambitious goal that by the end of 2025, all of its customers should be using the new system. Epic is urging its clients to commit to this transition by the end of next year, emphasizing the importance of being fully prepared for the transition.
Epic's database holds records for more than 280 million Americans, but patients often have records with other vendors as well. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal law, requires patient consent or knowledge before third parties can access their sensitive information. This adds another layer of complexity to the already difficult task of sharing medical records.
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Epic's Actions Against Misuse of Patient Data
Earlier this year, Carequality was at the center of a controversy when Epic revealed that some network participants were requesting patient records for purposes that were not related to treatment. This raised concerns about potential violations of privacy laws. Carequality announced that it is updating its policies to match TEFCA's definition of treatment, which could help prevent similar issues in the future.
Epic has expressed its support for Carequality's decision to align with TEFCA. The company stated that it will continue to assist its customers in managing their data exchanges through Carequality as they transition to TEFCA.
In a related story from four months ago, Epic Systems took action against Particle Health, a startup that was accused of misusing patient data. Epic cut its data connection with Particle Health after discovering that the startup was sharing patient information with third parties for purposes unrelated to medical treatment. This raised serious concerns about the potential violation of HIPAA's strict privacy rules.
Particle Health serves as an intermediary for accessing Epic's vast database of health records. However, the company allegedly allowed its partner organizations to misuse patient data, which could have compromised the security and privacy of millions of patients, according to DMR News.
Epic's electronic health records are accessed through Carequality, which processes over 400,000 documents a month. Any organization looking to join Carequality must be thoroughly vetted and is required to adhere to strict guidelines, especially when it comes to the treatment of patient data.
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