VA Hospital Joins NHIN Test

The Veterans Affairs Department has added its Richard L. Roudebush Medical Center in Indianapolis to a list to test medical data exchange through the Nationwide Health Information Network in partnership with the <a href=http://www.ihie.com/default.php>Indiana Health Information Exchange</a>, the largest health information exchange organization in the United States.

This item was posted by Nextgov Editor at Large Bob Brewin.

The Veterans Affairs Department has added its Richard L. Roudebush Medical Center in Indianapolis to a list to test medical data exchange through the Nationwide Health Information Network in partnership with the Indiana Health Information Exchange, the largest health information exchange organization in the United States.

VA already is testing NHIN for data exchange with private health care providers in San Diego and the Tidewater area of Virginia. The department has invited veterans in the Indianapolis area to sign up for the pilot.

VA said veterans who participate in the pilot will not have their medical information shared without their authorization. Participants will be asked to allow their public and private sector health care providers and doctors to share -- safely, securely and privately -- specific health information electronically.

VA Secretary Eric Shinseki described the pilot, which will run through 2012, as another step in the development of a Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record for veterans.

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