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The Indian Health Service (IHS) is in the midst of upgrading their Electronic Health Record (EHR) and related systems to conform to new regulations for meaningful use of EHRs.  Also as noted in that article, they are working to support requirements for health data exchange, including exchange with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) NHIN as well as to support a Master Person Index (MPI).

What is interesting about working with the U.S. Government is that certain contract information is public record, and this RFQ outlines how HHS intends to award a purchase order for MatchMetrix to NextGate to help build their exchange with NHIN and manage the MPI.  From that RFQ:

“Only the brand name specified will meet the Government's need.  …  HHS intends to purchase a software license from NextGate Solutions to assist in the implementation of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN) and to manage the Master Person Index (MPI) with a browser based interface.  These projects will help IHS modernize and extend electronic health informatio

n technology to improve access, quality, safety, and overall health status of American Indians and Alaskan Natives.  The NextGate software license will provide the management tools to help IHS achieve compliance with mandated federal requirements, including the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act, the AHIC-Interoperable Nationwide Health Exchange, the Federal Healthcare Architecture, and the HSPD12-HHS Identity associated with evolving criteria for Meaningful Use Electronic Health Record Certification provisions.”

The RFQ goes on to highlight the reasons for selecting NextGate which include:

• NextGate has adapted a functional core component of NHIN CONNECT.
• IHS has a unique environment and NextGate is already developing the schema for IHS' MPI project.
• NextGate is already working with IHS on other NHIN and MPI related projects including NHIN Health Information Exchange (HIE) and the Personal Health Record (PHR).
• NextGate has comprehensive knowledge of IHS's Resource and Patient Management System and has already developed messaging capabilities between it and NHIN, MPI, and IHS' PHR.

And it was great to see that the contract was officially awarded late last week.

NextGate is excited to be a part of this project that will enable the IHS to deliver improved and more cost effective patient care to their members.