Cisco Selected to Develop Nationwide Health Information Network Architecture

Cisco Systems has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collaborate with Accenture and IBM in developing prototypes for a Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) architecture. This partnership aims to create seamless information sharing among healthcare providers and establish a Personal Health Record for each U.S. citizen. The NHIN contracts will bring together technology developers, doctors, and hospitals to create innovative solutions for sharing health information with advanced security features.

Key Takeaways:

• Cisco will work with two consortia, led by Accenture and IBM, to develop prototypes for a Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) architecture.
• The NHIN architecture aims to enable secure information sharing among healthcare providers and establish a Personal Health Record for each U.S. citizen.
• The prototypes will test patient identification and information locator services, user authentication, access control, and other security aspects.
• The NHIN consortia will work closely with other HHS partners, including the Health Information Technology Standards Panel and the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology.
• Cisco's involvement in the NHIN contracts highlights its commitment to technology innovation and corporate social responsibility.
• Dr. Jeffrey Rideout, Cisco Vice President of Healthcare, Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), stated that modernizing the health system by enabling secure health information access is a national imperative.

Statistics:

• Four consortia have been selected to develop prototypes for the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) architecture.
• Two of these consortia will be led by Accenture and IBM, with Cisco as a collaborating partner.
• The NHIN contracts will bring together technology developers, doctors, and hospitals to create innovative solutions for sharing health information.
• Each consortium will design and implement a standards-based network prototype during the coming year.
• The NHIN consortia will test patient identification and information locator services; user authentication, access control; and other security aspects.
• The prototypes will establish an infrastructure for exchanging electronic health information and creating a Personal Health Record for each U.S. citizen.

Sources:

• Cisco Systems, Inc. (http://www.cisco.com)
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)
• RTI and the National Governor's Association
• Accenture
• IBM