HHS hosts first CONNECT Code-a-Thon

Open-source programmers will be getting together on Aug. 27 for the first CONNECT Code-A-Thon at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C, with thegoal of developing software that can eventually be used for a Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN).

CONNECT software was developed by 20 federal agencies who, after deciding to connect their health IT systems to the NHIN, chose to develop a shared software solution, rather than creating individual systems.

According to the CONNECT community portal, the federal agencies built CONNECT using open-source components and they are making the software available under an open-source license to lower costs and encourage innovation.

The gathering is designed to provide a forum for programmers to work on development issues, such as bug fixes, message processes, universal client applications, security and testing. The Code-A-Thon also hopes to provide a forum for discussion on topics including adaptor creation, ways to use development tools more effectively, the status of security technical control and new tools available through the CONNECT community portal.

The Code-A-Thon was first announced at a meeting of government health IT officials in mid-July.





Michael Bassett,

Contributor

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”