In May 2010, Minnesota became one of the first states in the nation to design and implement an oversight program for the exchange of electronic clinical health record information between healthcare providers, facilities and other entities like pharmacies and labs.
Minn. Dept. of Health officials provided a report earlier this year detailing certification standards for health information exchange services seeking to fulfill "meaningful use" requirements in the state’s e-health initiative.
And earlier this week, Ability Network in Minneapolis, which describes itself as the largest web-based secure health network in the nation, became the state’s first certified health data intermediary.
Ability now has the authority to provide infrastructure connecting computer systems and other electronic devices used by providers, payers, labs and pharmacies, enabling secure data transmission between and among them.
"With this certification, Ability will be able to help healthcare providers and payers throughout Minnesota communicate with each other safely and securely, for the benefit of their patients," said John Feikema, president of Ability, in a statement.
The company’s health network is used by more than half the hospitals in the country. Other customers include Medicare, thousands of doctor’s offices, skilled nursing facilities, labs, billing agencies and other entities. Recently, the company raised $27 million from investors, including Bain Capital’s venture arm.
Ability has also been involved in a federal initiative called the Direct Project, which establishes standards and documentation to support data transmission and to boost improved interoperability in the future.
The company was part of the first pilot of the Direct Project launched in February through which Hennepin County Medical Center sent immunization data to the Minn. Dept of Health using its web-based, secure health network.