NIST seeks firms to analyze health IT standards

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking firms to analyze whether certain health information technology standards are suitable for federal health information priorities, including meaningful use, the nationwide health information network and population health and public health. The project will test and analyze existing standards that support health information exchange, security and quality measurement, according to a Dec. 18th notice outlining the project. NIST is pursuing the project as part of a role assigned to it by the HITECH Act to study and test technical standards pertinent to establishing a nationwide e-health system. The notice said NIST's search for vendors was a part of its Healthcare IT Testing Infrastructure Project, under which it plans to offer services to validate health data exchange standards and test health work flows that use multiple messaging and document standards. NIST will also supply feedback loop to healthcare vendors and providers to improve use of the health IT standards.