Despite the digitization of almost all of our medical data, the true interoperability of that information still leaves a lot to be desired. If electronic health records (EHRs) are the foundation laid by the HITECH Act, then the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) is the house that the 21st Century Cures Act is building atop it. 

Once fully implemented, TEFCA will create a seamless system that shares computerized medical histories immediately among physicians, hospitals, and health systems anywhere in the United States. To do this, they will designate Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) to facilitate that exchange.