NwHIN vs NHIN

The nationwide health information network known as NwHIN is a set of standards, services and policies that enable secure health information exchange over the Internet. It is not a group of stakeholders or group of computers. It is merely the foundation for how health information will be exchanged and follow a patient in our country. Enacted in February 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act requires the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to establish a governance mechanism for the nationwide health information network (section 3001(c)(8) of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA)).

On the other hand, the Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange, which was formerly known as the NHIN Cooperative, is a group of stakeholders and integrated delivery networks that are collaborating to securely exchange health information electronically. The group includes federal agencies, local, regional and state-level Health Information Exchange Organizations (HIOs) and private organizations. And today the organizations are demonstrating actual health information exchange using the standards and policies adopted by the NwHIN.

Recently events have happened that impact both the network and the exchange. In May the Continue Reading to full article…