Carequality, a 501c3 non-profit, is a national-level, consensus-built, interoperability framework to enable exchange between and among health information networks and service platforms. Carequality supports secure access to health information across diverse networks, including those operated by electronic health record vendors, record locator service providers, health information exchanges, and others. The connectivity is governed by technical and policy agreements developed and maintained by a broad group of industry and government stakeholders. A Framework provides a set of policies and technical rules that outline how to share information across networks. A network actively exchanges data, using the framework rules.

Carequality provides programmatic and operational support for the Carequality Interoperability Framework, which enables health information sharing among and between all types of health data networks.

Health information network and service platform operators – “Implementers” – agree contractually to abide by the terms of the Carequality Interoperability Framework, which includes flow-down terms for their customers and members who participate as “Carequality Connections”. This approach enables communication between and among networks, and is conceptually similar to how cell phones work today. If you use a cell phone on AT&T’s network, you can still call your friend who uses the Verizon Wireless network.

The Carequality community includes health information networks, electronic health record vendors, personal health record vendors, consumer groups, record locator service providers and other types of service providers. Carequality’s workgroups and committees are open to all.

Yes, Carequality is a 501c3 non-profit with a public mission to enhance and operationalize health IT interoperability for the public good.

Carequality was founded as an initiative of The Sequoia Project in 2014. The non-profit launched and fostered Carequality’s growth to ensure it was a self-sustaining organization. In 2018, Carequality became an independent, 501c3 organization with its own governance and board of directors.

Carequality does not participate in the exchange of information that occurs between hospitals/doctors and has no access to any patient information.

The healthcare information technology landscape is made up of many different technologies. Carequality strives to unite these technologies and power interoperability among them with a common set of rules of the road and technical standards. Carequality is not a network or a standards body. We work with the entire healthcare and healthcare IT communities to build consensus for real-world health information exchange regardless of technology or geography or network.

Carequality is a supporting partner of ASTP’s Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE), and in particular leading the development of the Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN) Technical Framework (QTF).

Carequality was founded in 2014 by healthcare information technology industry leaders with support of the broader healthcare community and federal government stakeholders.

No, Carequality is a contractual and operational framework that health information networks may choose to implement to empower their customers and members to share information with members of other networks.

The individual provider organizations you see (hospitals, practices, etc.) are the organizations that collect your health information and may share it with other provider organizations. These organizations are required to follow applicable law (including HIPAA), which governs how a patient’s information can and cannot be used and disclosed.

If you have questions about restricting the use and disclosure of your patient information, reach out to the individual provider organizations (hospitals/practices) that may have your information on file. Your healthcare provider organizations and health plans must give you a notice, often called the Notice of Privacy Practices, or similar document, that outlines how they may use and share your information, when your permission is necessary, and your privacy rights. Each provider should also have a process for patients to request restrictions on how their patient information is used and disclosed.

Since Carequality does not have any access to patient information, you must make this request of the individual provider organizations.

Carequality is not able to determine where patient information is held, so please check with your frequent healthcare provider for their policies.

The sharing of information leveraging the Carequality Framework is between the two organizations (Requester and Receiver) that participate in the Exchange. Carequality is not an intermediary.

Patients can search to see if the hospitals/practices they have visited are participating in the Carequality Framework by searching our active sites page here: Active Sites (Search) – New – Carequality

If the hospital//practice does not come up in the search they are most likely not connected to the Framework and are not sharing your patient information through the Carequality Framework.

Carequality is a framework that is voluntarily adopted by provider organizations to facilitate the sharing of information needed for treatment. Given that each organization may have its own set of Privacy Practices, as permitted by applicable law, there is not a universal patient optout form administered by Carequality.

You may want to call your provider organization about opting out of exchange.