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National eHealth Collaborative launches NHIN University

By Diana Manos , Contributing writer

The National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) announced last week the creation of "NHIN University," a program designed to educate and engage healthcare IT stakeholders on efforts to develop the Nationwide Health Information Network.

The inaugural semester of NHIN University will feature a series of free webinars intended to provide stakeholders with foundational knowledge about what the NHIN is, how it works, and the vital trust fabric that underpins the safe and secure exchange of health information, NeHC leaders said.

One of the most important qualities of NHIN University classes will be the ability for stakeholders to interact with their "professors," providing real-time, real-world reactions to the information presented, they said.

"NeHC is pleased to announce this effort to educate and engage stakeholders about the ongoing evolution of the NHIN," said Laura Adams, chair, NeHC board of directors, and president  and CEO of the Rhode Island Quality Institute.

"New models for exchange using the NHIN are developing rapidly, and NHIN University will not only enable stakeholders to stay informed but will also provide the feedback loop that policymakers need to be successful," Adams said.

According to NeHC, it will hold the class titled NHIN 101: An Introduction to the -information-network-nhin" target="_blank" class="directory-item-link">-information-network-nhin" target="_blank" class="directory-item-link">Nationwide Health Information Network at its Stakeholder Forum Feb. 22, the next class in the NHIN 100 series to be held March 16.:p>

NHIN 102: Secure and Meaningful Exchange of Health Information over the Internet >will be taught by Professor Douglas Fridsma, MD, acting director of the Office of Standards and Interoperability, Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), and associate professor of biomedical informatics at Arizona State University.

NHIN 103: Architectures for Health Information Exchange and their Use will be offered in mid-April, and will be taught by Richard Kernan, NHIN a specification lead contractor for ONC.

NHIN 104: The Trust Fabric of the NHIN: Making Exchange a Good Choice will be offered in mid-May, NeHC leaders said.

NeHC leaders said they will offer recordings and transcripts of the webinars on the NeHC website.