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HIEs, Carequality & CommonWell — Networks for Health Data

Duration: 45 min · Level: Intermediate · Module: 8. Interoperability & Data Exchange · Focus: HIE, Carequality, CommonWell, interoperability, directed-exchange

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to explain and apply:

  • HIE models
  • Directed exchange
  • Carequality
  • CommonWell Health Alliance
  • State HIEs

Why this matters​

Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) are organizations that enable the electronic sharing of health information among providers.

Overview​

Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) are organizations that enable the electronic sharing of health information among providers. From regional HIEs to national networks like Carequality and CommonWell, these networks are the infrastructure behind "connected care." CEHRS specialists often serve as HIE coordinators.

Key concepts​

Key idea

HIE models: directed exchange (push, like secure email for labs/referrals), query-based exchange (pull, like looking up records from another hospital), consumer-mediated exchange (patient controls sharing)

  • Directed exchange: most common in transitions of care; referral to specialist with records attached; discharge summary sent to primary care; uses Direct Protocol (SMTP-based secure email for healthcare)
  • Carequality: national interoperability framework connecting thousands of organizations; enables "query-retrieve" across health systems; Epic Care Everywhere, CommonWell, and most state HIEs participate
  • CommonWell Health Alliance: health IT industry group (founded by Cerner, Allscripts, Athena) building a national network for patient identity matching and record sharing; interoperable with Carequality
  • State HIEs: each state has at least one HIE (e.g., NY eHealth, Texas Health Services Authority, CalHIE); critical for Medicaid programs and public health reporting
  • Consent in HIEs: opt-in vs opt-out models vary by state; opt-in = patient must actively consent before records shared; opt-out = records shared unless patient objects; HIPAA allows both under "treatment" permissible use

Check your understanding​

Try to recall each answer before expanding it.

Q1. What do you know about HIE models?

directed exchange (push, like secure email for labs/referrals), query-based exchange (pull, like looking up records from another hospital), consumer-mediated exchange (patient controls sharing)

Q2. What do you know about Directed exchange?

most common in transitions of care; referral to specialist with records attached; discharge summary sent to primary care; uses Direct Protocol (SMTP-based secure email for healthcare)

Q3. What do you know about Carequality?

national interoperability framework connecting thousands of organizations; enables "query-retrieve" across health systems; Epic Care Everywhere, CommonWell, and most state HIEs participate

Q4. What do you know about CommonWell Health Alliance?

health IT industry group (founded by Cerner, Allscripts, Athena) building a national network for patient identity matching and record sharing; interoperable with Carequality

Q5. What do you know about State HIEs?

each state has at least one HIE (e.g., NY eHealth, Texas Health Services Authority, CalHIE); critical for Medicaid programs and public health reporting

← Previous: C8.1 HL7 FHIR: The New Language of Health Data · Next: C8.3 Continuity of Care Documents & Patient Portals →

Part of Module 8: Interoperability & Data Exchange.