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A groundbreaking study has demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of the Making Electronic Data More Available for Research and Public Health (MedMorph) Reference Architecture (RA) in automating hepatitis C data exchange for public health surveillance and research. The pilot, involving public health authorities, research organizations, clinical sites, and electronic health record (EHR) vendors, tested MedMorph’s ability to streamline data sharing using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR).
Published in Applied Clinical Informatics (ACI), with Westat’s Nathan Botts, Susan Hassell, Russell Mardon, and Eric Pan among the authors, “Initial Real-World Pilot of the MedMorph Reference Architecture: Hepatitis C Surveillance and Research”revealed that the RA enabled seamless data transfers without burdening clinical staff. Public health authorities benefited from receiving clinical data alongside traditional lab reports, highlighting the potential for more comprehensive disease monitoring. Additionally, while the study identified some limitations in the Bulk FHIR standard, it underscored the feasibility of automating data exchange using existing regulatory frameworks.
By reducing manual reporting efforts and improving data completeness, MedMorph (now eCRNow) has the potential to modernize public health data collection. This initiative aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Public Health Data Strategy, paving the way for more efficient disease surveillance and research. The study’s success marks a significant step toward leveraging health IT to enhance public health response and drive better health outcomes.