Oracle announced its intention to join a federally-backed medical network that facilitates the sharing of patients’ data among clinics, hospitals, and insurance companies. The network, known as the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), was launched in December. Oracle, which acquired Cerner for $28 billion in 2022, is the latest major vendor to support TEFCA, alongside its rival Epic Systems.
Approval is required for Oracle to join TEFCA, but its interest in doing so enhances the network’s credibility and indicates the potential success of TEFCA in establishing a new standard for data-sharing practices in the healthcare industry. Sharing medical records across various healthcare organizations is challenging due to data being stored in different formats by numerous vendors, hindering easy access to comprehensive patient information.
Seema Verma, Oracle Health and Life Sciences’ executive vice president and general manager, stated in an interview with CNBC that joining TEFCA is a natural progression for Oracle, emphasizing their commitment to facilitating information sharing without blocking data. Epic, Oracle’s competitor, has faced criticism for its interoperability efforts, with Oracle calling out Epic’s CEO, Judy Faulkner, as a significant obstacle to electronic health record (EHR) interoperability.
TEFCA aims to unify various health-data exchange initiatives on a national level to standardize legal and technical requirements for sharing patient data. Qualified health information networks (QHINs) are the primary participants in TEFCA, volunteering to join without compensation and undergoing a rigorous approval process to ensure eligibility and technical readiness. Oracle announced its plan to become a QHIN, joining seven other live QHINs, including Epic, within TEFCA.
