Patient Authorization Technical Workgroup

Solving the Patient Authorization Challenge

**This workgroup is now closed**

The Query-Based Document Exchange Implementation Guide is clear that organizations have the ability to set their own policy for what permission is needed from the patient before his or her records will be released in response to a query. The Guide is silent, however, on how information on these requirements, and their potential fulfillment by requesters, can be communicated in the course of query transactions. In order to address this topic, the Carequality Steering Committee has approved the creation of a technical and a policy workgroup.

The Technical Workgroup will focus on transactions and messaging approaches, and is best suited for those with knowledge of the standards and technologies used in the Query-Based Document Exchange Use Case.

Under the advice and guidance of the Steering Committee, and with input from the Advisory Council, the Patient Authorization Technical Workgroup will come to agreement regarding how to communicate patient authorization requirements and status. The Patient Authorization Policy Workgroup must focus on the broad needs for industry and remain grounded in existing capabilities implemented in production.  For more details, please review the Carequality Patient Authorization Wiki (free registration required).

The patient authorization workgroups shall:

• Develop a standard approach to indicate in response transactions that patient consent is required (likely used in doc query but not necessarily limited to that transaction)
• Develop a standard approach to indicate in a query that the requester already has
  consent on file
• Develop a technical method for distributing and identifying consent forms to be used

Patient Authorization Technical Workgroup Members

• Marty Prahl, SSA
• Jeff Taylor, Surescripts
• Nic Hess, San Diego HealthConnect
• Larry Garber MD, Reliant Medical Group
• Harold Min, NorthShore University Health System
• Darren Mann, Intermountain Healthcare
• Alan Swenson, Epic
• Dale Moberg, OrionHealth
• Daniel Fischer, athenahealth
• Mark Gromowski, Netsmart