Microsoft, Visionshare partner to enhance health information transaction between physicians, patients

VisionShare, the nation's largest and most trusted healthcare information network, announced today that it is working with Microsoft Corp. to enhance the transaction of health information from physicians to their patients based on security protocols endorsed by the Office of the National Coordinator's (ONC) Direct Project. Through this collaboration, physicians can send encrypted personal clinical information directly to their patients' Microsoft HealthVault email accounts.

The use of Microsoft's new encrypted email service with VisionShare's connected network solution, allows the sharing of authenticated health information across the health system, and specifically, into patients' HealthVault accounts using their personal HealthVault Direct project-enabled e-mail address. VisionShare is one of two initial solution providers with whom Microsoft is working to leverage its platform to provide encrypted messaging between physicians and their patients.

"We are thrilled to be working with Microsoft, and view this collaboration as a significant game-changer for both physicians and consumers," said Mark Briggs, VisionShare CEO. "For a patient with a Microsoft HealthVault account, the amount of information that can now be provided by a physician via the Direct Project protocols to his/her patients is endless. As consumers become increasingly engaged in managing their personal health care, this connectivity and seamless information exchange is vital and enables them to be more educated and informed than ever before."

Utilizing Direct Project protocols, these physician-to-patient transactions generated by a certified EHR (or method) could help providers qualify to meet Phase One Meaningful Use requirements for the Incentive Program by providing patients with their health information, as well as proposed Phase Two requirements, regarding secure online patient messaging.

"Our early partnerships are accelerating the ability for patients to become active participants in managing their health," said Sean Nolan, distinguished engineer and chief architect, Microsoft Health Solutions Group. "As one of the first examples of the Direct Project security protocols being utilized to meet Meaningful Use requirements, this interoperability is a step towards the goal of expanding secure online interactions between physicians and patients."

VisionShare conducted and led one of the first Direct Project pilots, which recently resulted in the first successful online transaction of immunization data sent from a Minneapolis hospital to the Minnesota Department of Health.