CAREQUALITY

Carequality trusted exchange framework US healthcare networks.

Definition

Carequality key components: (1) Carequality Connected Implementer (entity becomes implementer signing Carequality Connected Agreement, agrees to legal + technical requirements). (2) Carequality Use Cases: Patient Care (treatment), Healthcare Operations (e.g., quality reporting, payer-provider exchange), Public Health (notifiable disease reporting), Patient Access (patient-mediated requests). (3) Carequality Implementation Guides based on IHE profiles: XCA (Cross-Community Access XDS-based document exchange), XCPD (Cross-Community Patient Discovery PIX-based patient matching), SAML 2.0 authentication, signed audit logs. (4) Carequality Trust Bundle: list of trusted CAs whose X.509 certificates accepted Carequality entities. (5) Carequality Steering Committee + Workgroups: multi-stakeholder governance (~30 organizations representing payers + providers + HIEs + EHRs + government). (6) Carequality Connected Implementer list 2024: Epic Care Everywhere (~80% US hospitals on Epic) + Cerner Health Network + eHealth Exchange + Surescripts + CommonWell Health Alliance + Carequality (Cerner-led) + Connection (Athenahealth) + multiple regional HIEs. Carequality + CommonWell + Cerner Health Network interoperate via Carequality Connection bridges ~70%+ US providers patient records reachable. Carequality joined Trusted Exchange Framework + Common Agreement (TEFCA) Qualified Health Information Network QHIN program 2023-2024 ONC.

Origin

Carequality launched 2014 by The Sequoia Project (formerly HealtheWay 2009) ; multi-stakeholder governance ; ~70%+ US providers covered 2024.

Example in context

Patient hospitalized Epic-using hospital A in California ; physician requests prior records from Mayo Clinic Minnesota (Cerner-using): Epic A invokes Carequality Connection Cerner Network Carequality XCA gateway, XCPD patient discovery matches patient using SSN + DOB + name + address combo, XCA document query returns CCDA C-CDA continuity-of-care document containing problem list + meds + allergies + labs etc., physician imports into Epic chart.

Related terms

• CommonWell — complementary network.
• Sequoia Project — parent organization.