“EHNAC certification builds trust among providers that Hixny has the policies, procedures and systems to ensure privacy and security during transitions of care,” said Mark McKinney, CEO at Hixny
Albany, NY (PRWEB) October 23, 2014
Hixny, the Regional Health Information Organization serving 1.6 million people in the Greater Capital Region, Northern New York and Mohawk Valley, announced today that it has achieved full, 2-year accreditation as a Trusted Agent for HISP Direct Messaging from DirectTrust.org and the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC).
Hixny is one of the first two regional, non-profit health information exchanges in the nation to receive this accreditation. The other is the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization in Rochester, N.Y.
Earlier this year, Hixny became only the tenth health information exchange in the country to achieve nationwide interoperability through DirectTrust Bundle, meaning providers participating in Hixny can use its HISP (Health Information Services Provider) Direct Messaging capabilities to connect with healthcare professionals throughout the United States who are treating their patients.
Hixny’s Direct Messaging service works like an encrypted email, ensuring privacy and security when healthcare providers send vital patient information to each other during transitions of care. This is one more way in which Hixny is helping healthcare providers connect to coordinate care and achieve the Triple Aim of enhancing patient experience, lowering health care costs, enhancing patient satisfaction, and improving the health of populations.
In order to qualify for federal incentive payments under Meaningful Use Stage 2, providers must meet data transfer requirements using Direct Messaging through a HISP.
Direct Trusted Agent accreditation signifies that Hixny’s HISP services are held to a superior standard, and ensures compliance with HIPAA regulations and the Direct Project, which set the national encryption standard for the secure exchange of healthcare data.
“This latest achievement proves Hixny’s willingness to provide great services to our members and to strive to be on the forefront of emerging technologies and standards,” says Joel Ryba, chief operating officer of Hixny.
Through a consultative review process, EHNAC evaluated Hixny in areas of privacy, security and confidentiality; technical performance; business practices and organizational resources as it relates to Direct exchange participants. In addition, EHNAC reviewed Hixny’s process of managing and transferring protected health information and determined that the organization meets or exceeds all EHNAC criteria and industry standards.
“Endorsed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), the Direct Trusted Agent Accreditation Program ensures that organizations like Hixny establish and uphold a superior level of trust for their stakeholders,” says Lee Barrett, executive director of EHNAC. “The need in the marketplace for guidance and accountability in health information exchange is undeniable, and we applaud Hixny’s commitment to the highest standards in privacy, security and confidentiality.”
“We are proud of to be one of the first non-profit RHIOs in the country to meet the stringent standards of the Direct Trusted Agent Accreditation Program, and we applaud the exceptional work and dedication of Joel Ryba and his team through this rigorous process,” said Mark McKinney, CEO of Hixny. “EHNAC certification builds trust among providers that Hixny has the policies, procedures and systems to ensure privacy and security during transitions of care.”
Hixny (“hix-knee”) is the hub of a truly unique collaboration that transforms information into improved healthcare and community wellness. It connects providers, patients and organizations in the Capital Region, Northern New York and Mohawk Valley to better coordinate care and reduce healthcare costs across our community. Hixny’s programs and services give patients and clinicians real-time electronic access to patients’ comprehensive medical history for making timely, informed care decisions. As a not-for-profit, Hixny collaborates with health plans, hospitals, physician practices, employers, government agencies, patients and others in its region who share the common vision and goal of substantially transforming healthcare and improving population health. To learn more about Hixny, visit http://www.hixny.org.
About DirectTrust.org
DirectTrust.org is a non-profit, competitively neutral, self-regulatory entity created by and for participants in the Direct community, including HISPs, CAs and RAs, doctors, patients, and vendors, and supports both provider-to-provider as well as patient-to-provider Direct exchange.
The goal of DirectTrust.org is to develop, promote and, as necessary, help enforce the rules and best practices necessary to maintain security and trust within the Direct community, consistent with the HITECH Act and the governance rules for the Nationwide Health Information Network established by ONC.
DirectTrust.org is committed to fostering widespread public confidence in the Direct exchange of health information. To learn more, visit http://www.directtrust.org.
About EHNAC
The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC) is a voluntary, self-governing standards development organization (SDO) established to develop standard criteria and accredit organizations that electronically exchange healthcare data. These entities include electronic health networks, payers, financial services firms, health information exchanges, medical billers, outsourced services, e-prescribing solution providers and direct trusted agents.
EHNAC was founded in 1993 and is a tax-exempt 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. Guided by peer evaluation, the EHNAC accreditation process promotes quality service, innovation, cooperation and open competition in healthcare. To learn more, visit http://www.ehnac.org or contact info(at)ehnac(dot)org.