Impact Statements

"With the Common Framework, the CFH project achieved a quantum step forward in conceiving the NHIN and making it practicable. Prior to its development, discussions on the operating approach and the architecture were so wide-ranging as to create confusion and frustrate meaningful debate. Once the Framework was published the government and industry rapidly coalesced around its fundamental principle that the NHIN is a network of health information exchange networks with no central technology or national operator. Since this common view has been established we have seen continual progress through work done by state and federal governments and individual health information exchanges. The Common Framework includes a large body of intellectual property contributed by project members that has helped to establish the credibility of the framework and can assist fledgling HIEs in startup activities. As the concept of the NHIN has evolved, the CFH group continues to look downstream, as is demonstrated by recent industry coalescence around CFH-developed principles for the PHR. The ability of CFH to attract the highest-level participants, frame the debate and move to consensus provides assurance that it will continue to lead the healthcare industry as the healthcare interoperability requirements and solutions evolve."