The federal government has released free software that will enable health care organizations to exchange information over the Nationwide Health Information Network at some point in the near future.
The Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) is currently under development as a “network of networks,” designed to securely link the electronic health records at hospitals, physician offices, pharmacies, payers, and labs, so that health information can follow patients around the country.
The new software is designed to be an “on-ramp,” allowing different health care organization patients' electronic health record systems to connect to the NHIN once it is fully operational in the next few years.
The open source software, called CONNECT, is available online at www.connectopensource.org
The software is available under an open source license that allows users to make changes to fit their own needs.
Although the software is free, organizations that use it are responsible for the costs of implementation and maintenance, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The release of the CONNECT software is just a first step, according to the DHHS. At this stage, vendors in the health information technology market are likely to begin examining CONNECT and may integrate some of its elements into their products for health care providers.