Health Information Service Provider (HISP)
What is a Health Information Service Provider (HISP)?
A HISP is an accredited network service operator that allows for clinical data exchange on a national level through Direct Secure Messaging. Its job is to manage security and transportation for the health information exchange (HIE).
The HISP works by allowing hospitals, health plans, doctors, health information exchanges, and consumers a way to access the Direct Secure Message network.
All HISPs are regulated and monitored by the Direct Trust, which is an organization empowered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Why is the HISP important for healthcare?
The HISP offers cost-effective, rapidly deployed, and industry-compliant health information sharing. This is an alternative to sharing information by fax, proprietary interfaces, and virtual private networks, which can be costly and outdated. Additionally, they offer users access to the Direct Secure Messaging network, which is where trading partners can exchange protected health information (PHI) across the internet.
Sharing information allows for better patient care, and with the HISP, there is no need to be concerned about health information being insecure.