Epic Systems, a leading healthcare software provider, announced on August 1, 2024 that patients in the United States will soon have improved access to their medical records through third-party apps of their choice. This advancement, made possible by 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 represents a significant step toward greater patient autonomy and data accessibility in the healthcare sector.

TEFCA, a framework developed with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, aims to establish a nationwide standard for the secure exchange of healthcare data. Epic Systems is among the first seven qualified health information networks to support TEFCA, which ensures interoperability between different healthcare systems and applications. By enabling individual access services, TEFCA is expected to revolutionize the way patients manage and share their healthcare information. Epic’s recent implementation of this feature required careful planning to ensure the security of patient data, compliance with HIPAA, and building trust between patients and the apps they use.

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