A Utah health information exchange this week became the first HIE to gain a stamp of approval from a standards group that specializes in certifying health information networks.
The Utah Health Information Network (UHIN) has been accredited under the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission's (EHNAC) health information exchange accreditation program.
The Utah HIE handles both administrative and clinical exchanges. It also provides credentialing services, which let provides to submit credentialing information to multiple payers, according to the HIE.
EHNAC, a standards development organization and accrediting body, said it evaluated the Utah organization in areas including privacy and security, technical performance, business practices and organizational resources.
EHNAC also reviewed the HIE's process for managing and transferring protected health information. According to EHNAC, the HIE "meets or exceeds all EHNAC criteria and industry standards."
Accredited status lasts for two years, after which an HIE may be evaluated for re-accreditation. The Utah Health Information Network is also accredited under EHNAC's Healthcare Network Accreditation Program.
UHIN says it serves 90 percent medical providers in Utah as well as the Utah State government.
EHNAC announced plans to launch an HIE accreditation effort in 2008.
