The Role of Electronic Health Record Integrations in Care Coordination
Every day, healthcare providers face a common challenge: Patients receive care in multiple locations, scattering their medical information across different electronic health record (EHR) systems.
The result? Extra calls, faxed records, delayed treatments, and sometimes decisions made without the full picture. Beyond the frustration, these gaps can directly affect the quality of care patients receive.
This is exactly what our electronic health record integration with nationwide health information exchange networks solves. Through secure EHR data sharing, providers gain access to complete, up-to-date patient records, regardless of where care was delivered.
Let’s examine how IMS’s integration with CommonWell Health Alliance, eHealth Exchange, and Carequality helps deliver powerful interoperability solutions for medical practices.
See How IMS Can Transform Care Coordination
The Growing Importance of Healthcare Interoperability
Medical practices face mounting complexity in managing patient data. Lab results, prescriptions, and imaging studies often end up siloed in different systems, leaving providers without a complete view of the patient’s health.
Without that unified record, practices risk:
- Missing critical details such as allergies or medications.
- Ordering unnecessary, duplicate tests.
- Delaying referrals or treatment decisions.
That’s why federal agencies, such as the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), have been advocating for stronger EHR data sharing for years. Initiatives, like the 21st Century Cures Act and TEFCA, are also speeding up the shift toward nationwide health information exchange.
Certified EHR systems, like 1st Providers Choice’s EMR software, are key to making this possible. This platform’s healthcare data exchange network integrations give providers the tools to share information securely, stay compliant with regulations, and most importantly, deliver better care with a more complete view of each patient.
Overview of Major Health Information Networks
Behind every seamless exchange of patient data are the networks that make EHR interoperability possible. These networks serve as highways for health information, connecting hospitals, clinics, EHR vendors, and even federal agencies, allowing data to flow securely across the country.
Among the most influential are CommonWell Health Alliance, eHealth Exchange, and Carequality. While each takes a slightly different approach, they all share the same goal: breaking down data silos and ensuring providers have the complete picture of their patients’ health.
Here’s a breakdown of each healthcare data exchange network:
CommonWell Health Alliance
CommonWell is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to nationwide health information exchange. Its network connects EHR vendors, providers, payers, and other healthcare stakeholders.
Key features include:
- Record locator services that find patient data across participating organizations.
- Patient identity management to match records accurately across systems.
- Nationwide connectivity, ensuring patients’ data follows them wherever they seek care.
eHealth Exchange
eHealth Exchange is the largest and oldest healthcare data exchange network in the U.S., linking federal agencies with private healthcare organizations. It provides the backbone for the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) and connects some of the nation’s biggest health systems, making it a critical driver of healthcare interoperability at scale.
Key features include:
- Query-based data exchange, allowing providers to pull relevant clinical records.
- Support for referrals, disability claims, and public health reporting.
- Connectivity with federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), CMS, and the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Carequality
Unlike CommonWell and eHealth Exchange, Carequality is not a network itself. Instead, it is a trust framework that allows networks and organizations to connect with each other securely.
Key features include:
- Common rules of exchange that establish trust and standardization.
- Vendor-neutral connectivity, bridging different networks and organizations.
- The ability to connect systems that otherwise would remain siloed.
Key Benefits of Having Patient Data Sharing Electronic Health Record Integrations
When EHR systems connect with nationwide health information exchange networks, everyone wins — providers get the information they need, and patients enjoy smoother, safer care.
Advantages For Providers
- A complete view of patient history, including labs, medications, and allergies.
- Faster referrals and smoother transitions of care.
- Improved clinical decision-making based on comprehensive data.
- Reduced duplicate testing and administrative overhead.
Advantages For Patients
- Seamless care across different providers and geographic locations.
- Faster treatment with fewer delays.
- Empowerment through access to their longitudinal health record.
- Better outcomes thanks to more coordinated, informed care.
Bridge Data Gaps and Deliver Safer, Faster Care with 1st Providers Choice’s EHR Integrations
After decades of working alongside providers, one thing is clear: Care improves when you have the full patient story at your fingertips. With 1st Providers Choice’s EHR software, your practice gains the tools to reduce risks, improve outcomes, and put patients at the center of every decision:
- Seamless EHR integration with Carequality, CommonWell, and eHealth Exchange ensures your practice is part of the nation’s leading health information exchange networks.
- A compliance-ready system with ONC certification, HIPAA standards, and TEFCA guidelines—so you stay ahead of regulatory demands.
- Provider-focused design, built for real-world workflows with dedicated support to make adoption smooth and stress-free.
Don’t wait until gaps in data slow your practice down. Schedule a consultation today to discover how IMS integrations promote EHR interoperability.
Experience the Benefits of Seamless EHR Data Sharing
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does IMS ensure the security of shared patient data?
At 1st Providers Choice, security is non-negotiable. IMS uses HIPAA-compliant safeguards, advanced encryption, and secure APIs to protect patient data during every exchange.
2. What makes IMS different from others when it comes to EHR interoperability?
Unlike many EHRs that offer limited connectivity, IMS comes fully integrated with CommonWell, eHealth Exchange, and Carequality. This positions your practice within the nation’s largest data-sharing frameworks right out of the box.
3. What is the difference between CommonWell, eHealth Exchange, and Carequality?
CommonWell and eHealth Exchange are nationwide health information networks, while Carequality provides the trust framework that allows different networks to connect. IMS integrates with all three, giving your practice maximum interoperability.
4. Can patients access their own records through IMS?
Yes. IMS supports patient portals and nationwide interoperability standards that make longitudinal health records available to patients, enhancing engagement and transparency.