Moving NHIN from concepts to reality

By Patty Enrado, Editor

ORLANDO, Fla. - There’s been a lot of talk and work around building the nationwide health information network, or NHIN, but thus far movement has been slow.

It’s time for thinking outside of the box when constructing the NHIN, Ray Patalano, senior solutions marketing manager for Ciena Corp., said.

That’s the concept behind his Roundtable 305, “A NHIN: Creating a New Vision.”

Attendees to the Tuesday, February 26, 2:15 PM to 3:15 PM session will take part in a group effort at teasing out interoperability issues, determining how rural and smaller providers can participate and connect to a nationwide network, and ultimately agreeing on the best model to facilitate the NHIN.

“The fundamental issue is that everybody is doing their own thing,” he said. “No one has come to agree on a central model, a common vision.”

Patalano is endorsing a quasi-government entity that will oversee the development of the NHIN. He likens the entity to the U.S. Post Office - neither 100 percent commercial nor 100 percent government. “We need to get away from the profit-only mentality,” he said. This proposed model would operate independently, yet be heavily regulated.

The roundtable’s goal is to discuss concrete, innovative ideas that will move the NHIN forward. Within 30 days of the roundtable, Patalano anticipates creating a draft document - with sign-off from participants - and forward it on to Congress and the various bodies involved in NHIN activities.

“The goal is to inform people and start a new discussion,” he said.