Verizon aims to spur medical data exchange

Verizon said Wednesday it will issue medical identity credentials to 2.3 million doctors, physician assistants and nurses in an effort to boost use of its Medical Data Exchange.

The credentials are free as Verizon just wants the industry to use its Medical Data Exchange. The MDE features a secure inbox attached to a physician portal. This portal will allow doctors to get access to electronic medical records, e-prescriptions and health information exchanges.

Aside from the potential business benefits, Verizon will allow health care workers to meet federal requirements to establish strong identity requirements to assess electronic payment data by mid-2011. That move by itself could be handy.

Verizon's Medical Data Exchange is designed to link various healthcare IT systems. In a nutshell, the Medical Data Exchange consortium includes companies such as MedQuist, MxSecure and others.

Source: Verizon statement