Epic Systems, a leading healthcare software vendor, announced on August 1, 2024, that patients in the US will soon have enhanced access to their medical records through third-party apps of their choice. This advancement, made possible through Epic's participation in the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), allows individuals to securely import their health data into various applications, such as health coaching or medication reminder apps, using their Epic credentials. This marks a significant step towards improved patient autonomy and data accessibility within the healthcare sector.
TEFCA, a framework developed with the support of the US Department of Health and Human Services, aims to establish a nationwide standard for secure health data exchange. Epic Systems is among the first seven Qualified Health Information Networks to support TEFCA, which ensures interoperability across various health systems and applications. By enabling individual access services, TEFCA is expected to revolutionize how patients manage and share their health information. Epic's recent implementation of this feature required careful planning to ensure patient data security, compliance with HIPAA, and the establishment of trust between patients and the apps they choose to use.
