Government offers free NHIN connection software
The Federal Health Architecture, an E-Gov initiative led by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), is making free software available as a first step to help public and private health IT systems communicate to the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).
The ONC has facilitated development of the NHIN, which will tie together health information exchanges, integrated delivery networks, pharmacies, government health facilities and payors, labs, providers, private payors and other stakeholders into a "network of networks."
Robert Kolodner, MD, who heads the ONC, said that the Connect software is the outcome of a 2008 decision by more than 20 federal agencies to connect their health IT systems to the NHIN. This shared software solution can be used by each agency within its own environment.
The agencies built Connect using open-source components, and will make it available under an open source license in order to encourage innovation and to keep costs low. The software will be available to the entire healthcare industry, which is expected to speed NHIN adoption among healthcare organizations, according to the ONC.
Private and public sector organizations can download Connect and use it for their connectivity needs and are encouraged to modify and expand the capabilities of the software, the agency said. Although the download is free, an organization opting to use the solution should be aware it will be responsible for costs associated with its implementation and maintenance within its own environment.
To download the software, please go to www.connectopensource.org. <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; mso-themecolor:followedhyperlink; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->
The ONC has facilitated development of the NHIN, which will tie together health information exchanges, integrated delivery networks, pharmacies, government health facilities and payors, labs, providers, private payors and other stakeholders into a "network of networks."
Robert Kolodner, MD, who heads the ONC, said that the Connect software is the outcome of a 2008 decision by more than 20 federal agencies to connect their health IT systems to the NHIN. This shared software solution can be used by each agency within its own environment.
The agencies built Connect using open-source components, and will make it available under an open source license in order to encourage innovation and to keep costs low. The software will be available to the entire healthcare industry, which is expected to speed NHIN adoption among healthcare organizations, according to the ONC.
Private and public sector organizations can download Connect and use it for their connectivity needs and are encouraged to modify and expand the capabilities of the software, the agency said. Although the download is free, an organization opting to use the solution should be aware it will be responsible for costs associated with its implementation and maintenance within its own environment.
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