Six organizations are planning pilot programs to test the Direct Project software, which is designed to allow health care providers to securely exchange data, according to Arien Malec, coordinator of the Direct Project, CMIO reports (Stevens, CMIO, 12/15).
The Direct Project, formerly known as NHIN Direct, is a streamlined version of the Nationwide Health Information Network.
It will allow health care providers to send secure messages containing patient information, such as patient referrals and care summaries (iHealthBeat, 12/1).
The organizations that will participate in pilot tests of the software are:
- CareSpark, Tennessee's health information exchange;
- Connecticut's Medical Professional Services, a regional extension center;
- MedAllies of New York, which operates a health information exchange;
- Minnesota's VisionShare, a provider of health data exchange software;
- Redwood MedNet, a California health information exchange; and
- The Rhode Island Quality Institution, a Beacon Community and regional extension center.
Participants will provide feedback to the Health IT Policy and Standards committees. The programs could be expanded in 2011 and 2012 (CMIO, 12/15).