I recently had an opportunity to meet with Joseph C. Baron, the Vice President of Development for MEDNET USA. MEDNET is a third party vendor that has developed a National Common Messaging Back Bone using a secure infrastructure to transmit data anywhere. According to Baron, "The MEDNET USA system will use the same type of proven security that VISA™ uses all over the world. We won’t be storing any information about patients. And we are only providing a network so healthcare providers can gain secure access to patient medical and insurance information." The MEDNET National Health Card will be controlled by the patient and will include functionality for a personal health record system called "myHealthfolio" which is to be deployed companywide for Carlson Company employees next year.
MEDNET USA Services include Basic Connectivity which provides solutions for practical, clinical and administrative problems common across a physician business. This service will be available at a very low cost, which could be upgraded to additional premium services. The core infrastructure will be able to support Basic and Premium Connectivity Services.
MEDNET's Basic Connectivity Service Features will include Secure Chat, Provider Lookup, National Referral Management Service, National Encounter Reporting Service, and Generalized Secure Data Routing Service.
Baron says that RHIOs will be a primary market for these services as MEDNET can provide secure, robust exchange of health information in a secure and sustainable environment.
