As with the technology that people use everyday – telephone, email, Internet, mobile technology – health information exchange is not a “one-size-fits-all” concept. ONC recognizes that different providers will have different uses for health information exchange. The standards and specifications supporting those needs are being developed and harmonized within ONC’s Office of Science & Technology (OST) into a portfolio of solutions.

ONC is responsible for curating this set of standards and specifications that support interoperability and ensuring that they can be assembled into solutions for a variety of health information exchange scenarios. Support to on-the-ground implementers in assembling standards and policy building blocks to solve providers’ most pressing information exchange needs is a key component to ensuring success. As early implementations produce results, disseminating and spreading the information exchange solutions will ensure that a wide array of implementation guidance is available to providers looking to engage in health information exchange.