How the federal government helps health care standards evolve

Dr. Lauren Thompson discusses the Federal Health Architecture.

Health information exchange is on the front lines of cost control and health care improvements. To provide simple tools and channels for hospitals, doctors, and other institutions to exchange data with the government, patients, and each other, the Department of Health and Human Services coordinates an initiative called the Federal Health Architecture (FHA).

Dr. Lauren Thompson, director of the FHA, speaks in this interview about the FHA’s accomplishments and the current state of health information exchange.

Topics in the interview include:

  • How the FHA arose as a solution to the problem of exchanging health data, both across government agencies and with partners in the private sector. [Discussed at the 0:45 mark]
  • Status of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NwHIN), which is participating in the NwHIN Exchange, and what the requirements are for participation. [Discussed at the 4:45 mark]
  • Initiatives at the Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran Affairs. [Discussed at the 7:45 mark]
  • Future of the NwHIN Exchange and the CONNECT project, including support for the Direct standard. [Discussed at the 9:45 mark]
  • Cost savings and other benefits offered by the work of the Federal Health Architecture to the health care field. [Discussed at the 13:15 mark]
  • Promoting services to Health Information Exchanges. [Discussed at the 14:45 mark]
  • You can view the entire conversation in the following video:

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