ONC Announces Launch of “Direct Project” Pilots
In a Press Release posted today, February 2nd, ONC announced that providers and public health agencies in Minnesota and Rhode Island began this month exchanging health information using specifications developed by the Direct Project, which is described as an “open government” initiative that calls on cooperative efforts by organizations in the health care and information technology sectors. The ONC Press Release notes that other Direct Project pilot programs will also be launched soon in New York, Connecticut, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and California. The story is also covered today by the New York Times in Steve Lohr’s article “U.S. Tries Open-Source Model for Health Data Systems“.
The ONC Press Release notes that Direct Project is intended to give health care providers early access to an easy-to-use, internet-based tool that can replace mail and fax transmissions of patient data with secure and efficient electronic health information exchange. It was designed as part of President Obama’s ‘open government’ initiative to drive rapid innovation, and last year is said to have brought together some 200 participants from more than 60 companies and other organizations. Volunteers worked together to assemble consensus standards that support secure exchange of basic clinical information and public health data. Now, pilot testing of information exchange based on Direct Project specifications is being carried out this year with the aim toward formal adoption of the standards by 2012.
ONC states that information exchange supported by Direct Project specifications address core needs, including standardized exchange of laboratory results; physician-to-physician transfers of summary patient records; transmission of data from physicians to hospitals for patient admission; transmission of hospital discharge data back to physicians; and transmission of information to public health agencies. The Press Release also notes
[t]hat in addition to representing most-needed information transfers for clinicians and hospitals, these information exchange capabilities will also support providers in meeting ‘meaningful use’ objectives established last year by HHS, and will thus support providers in qualifying for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments in their use of electronic health records.
If you would like more information about Direct Project, or have questions such as:
- How does direct exchange fit into the big picture?
- How is direct exchange different than HIE initiatives?
- Does direct exchange support or supplant State HIE initiatives?
- What is the security model for Direct Project?
- Who issues Digital Certificates for users?
- What are the limitations of the Direct Project model?
Then, check out the following links for excellent information:
- Direct Project Overview
- Direct Project Implementation Group
- Direct Project FAQs
- Direct Project Pilots
