The nationwide health information network is a set of standards, services and policies that enable secure health information exchange over the Internet. The network will provide 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. This critical part of the national health IT agenda will enable health information to follow the consumer, be available for clinical decision making, and support appropriate use of healthcare information beyond direct patient care so as to improve population health.

A group of federal agencies, local, regional and state-level Health Information Exchange Organizations (HIOs) and integrated delivery networks, formerly known as the NHIN Cooperative, has been helping to develop the network standards, services and policies. Today, these organizations are demonstrating live health information exchange through the Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange. By the end of 2010, it is expected that approximately 35 entities, including small provider practices, will be securely sharing live health information as part of this Exchange. For more information about the Exchange, please visit Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange.

Beginning in the Fall of 2010, a Governance Work Group under the Health IT Policy Committee, will prepare recommendations for governance of the nationwide health information network. Earlier in 2010, the Nationwide Health Information Network Work Group, also a part of the Health IT Policy Committee, presented recommendations for extending the secure exchange of health information using nationwide health information network standards, services and policies to the broadest audience possible. Activities of the Governance Work Group, the Nationwide Health Information Network Work Group (currently inactive) and the Health IT Policy Committee can be found at http://healthit.hhs.gov/policycommittee.

Based on initial recommendations from the Nationwide Health Information Network Work Group, the Direct Project was launched in March 2010 to specify a simple, secure, scalable, standards-based way for participants to send authenticated, encrypted health information directly to known, trusted recipients over the Internet. The Direct Project expands existing Nationwide Health Information Network standards and service descriptions to address the key Stage 1 requirements for Meaningful Use, and to provide an easy "on-ramp" to nationwide exchange for a wide set of providers and organizations. For more information about the Direct Project, please visit http://www.directproject.org .

Moving forward, the nationwide health information network will continue evolving to meet emerging needs for exchanging electronic health information securely over the Internet. This evolution will be driven by emerging technology, users, uses, and policies.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) believes that with broad implementation, the secure exchange of health information using nationwide health information network standards, services and policies will help improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare for all Americans.

For more information: Get the Facts about the Nationwide Health Information Network, Direct Projects, and CONNECT