A set of common standards, services and policies that allow for secure exchange of information over the Internet.
Deeper dive
These protocols securely move patient information from paper to electronic format. This program provides a foundation for the exchange of health information across diverse entities, within communities and across the country, helping to achieve the goals of the HITECH Act.
The Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange is the first community that implemented these standards, specifications and policies in production. Sharing of electronic health records enables providers in any facility or geographic location to improve and expedite care coordination while better controlling costs. The NHIN is an underpinning of a national health information exchange, one of the primary goals of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.
The NIHN falls under the purview of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) at the Department of Health and Human Services. ONC is leading the effort to implement and use the most advanced health information technology available to enable electronic health information exchange.