What Epic's interoperability push means for hospitals
Becker's Hospital Review
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
Epic Systems plans to transition all its associated hospitals and health systems to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) by the end of 2025, with full sign-up expected by 2024. This move aims to improve nationwide interoperability beyond the current 70% plateau to 100% coverage, driven by Epic's historical success with its Care Everywhere interoperability platform. TEFCA, stemming from the 21st Century Cures Act, enables secure health information exchange across different EHR systems. Epic, a Qualified Health Information Network under TEFCA, is focused on minimizing the IT burden on healthcare providers while emphasizing the operational benefits such as reduced administrative tasks. Currently, 66 health systems, including prominent institutions like Emory Healthcare and Mayo Clinic, are already operational with TEFCA, reflecting growing interest in nationwide interoperability.
