Find answers to common questions about our mission, standards, certification process, and how we're transforming healthcare interoperability.
USEHRE stands for Universal Standard Encrypted Health Record Exchange. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit standards and research organization dedicated to transforming healthcare interoperability.
What we do:
What we DON'T do: We do not build or operate healthcare platforms. Commercial companies create the actual Healthcare PaaS (Platform as a Service) systems that implement our standards. This separation ensures our standards remain open, unbiased, and focused on serving the public good.
USEHRE certification demonstrates that your organization meets the highest standards for healthcare data interoperability, security, and patient-centered design.
Who can get certified:
The certification process:
Benefits: Market differentiation, improved interoperability, access to USEHRE network, technical support, and demonstrated commitment to patient-centered care.
USEHRE offers diverse partnership opportunities designed to advance healthcare interoperability while supporting your organization's mission.
Partnership Categories:
Partnership Benefits Include:
Get Started: Contact [email protected] to explore partnership opportunities tailored to your organization.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, USEHRE operates with complete transparency and accountability. Our funding comes from diverse sources to ensure independence and sustainability.
Primary Funding Sources:
How Funds Are Used:
Financial Transparency: As a 501(c)(3), we file annual Form 990 reports publicly available through the IRS and charity watchdog organizations. We maintain strict conflict-of-interest policies and independent board governance.
Support Our Mission: Donations are tax-deductible. Contact [email protected] for information about making a contribution or establishing a corporate partnership.
USEHRE doesn't reinvent the wheel—we build upon the best healthcare data standards that have been developed over decades by international standards organizations. This ensures compatibility with existing systems while advancing interoperability.
Core Healthcare Standards:
Security & Privacy Standards:
USEHRE's Value Add: We take these proven standards and create comprehensive implementation guides, extend them for cross-species healthcare, add patient-controlled sharing features, ensure AI-ready data structures, and provide certification to guarantee correct implementation. We're a bridge between standards and real-world deployment.
There are many ways to support USEHRE's mission of universal healthcare interoperability, from financial contributions to volunteering your expertise.
Financial Support:
Professional Involvement:
Organizational Support:
Spread the Word:
Get Started: Contact [email protected] for donation options or [email protected] to discuss how your skills can help advance our mission.
Companion animals are family members for over 185 million pet parents in the US alone, yet veterinary medicine faces the exact same data interoperability challenges as human healthcare. USEHRE's dual-track approach addresses both.
The Problem is Universal:
Benefits of Unified Standards:
Technical Approach:
Real-World Impact: Pet parents can share vaccination records with boarding facilities, transfer medical history when moving, provide complete information to emergency vets, and participate in veterinary research that advances treatment for their pets and others.
Security and privacy are not afterthoughts at USEHRE—they're foundational principles. The "E" in USEHRE stands for "Encrypted," emphasizing that secure data exchange is core to our mission.
Encryption & Data Protection:
Access Control & Authorization:
Regulatory Compliance:
Security Certification Requirements:
Privacy by Design: USEHRE standards incorporate privacy principles from the ground up, including data minimization (only collect what's needed), purpose limitation (use data only for stated purposes), and transparency (clear communication about data usage).
Continuous Monitoring: Platforms must maintain ongoing security monitoring, participate in threat intelligence sharing, and undergo annual recertification to maintain USEHRE certification.
This is one of our most important distinctions: USEHRE doesn't replace existing standards—we enhance and extend them into a complete, implementable ecosystem.
What HL7 FHIR Provides:
What USEHRE Adds to FHIR:
The Key Difference:
Think of FHIR as providing the alphabet and grammar of healthcare data exchange. USEHRE provides the complete book—detailed instructions for building systems that work together seamlessly, support patient empowerment, enable cutting-edge AI research, and serve both human and veterinary medicine.
Compatibility: Because USEHRE builds on FHIR rather than replacing it, any USEHRE-certified system is automatically FHIR-compliant. You get the benefit of both the broad FHIR ecosystem and the enhanced features USEHRE provides.
Real-World Example: FHIR defines a "Patient" resource. USEHRE extends this with profiles for patient-controlled sharing preferences, cross-species patient records (for companion animals), and AI-ready structured data that preserves privacy while enabling research—all while remaining fully FHIR-compliant.
Absolutely not. USEHRE is a non-profit standards organization—we don't build, sell, or operate healthcare software. We're a partner and resource for EHR vendors, not a competitor.
Our Role:
EHR Vendor Opportunities:
Why This Matters:
Healthcare suffers when vendors build proprietary silos. Patients can't access their data, providers can't share information, and innovation is stifled. USEHRE provides neutral, open standards that benefit everyone:
Our Non-Profit Structure: As a 501(c)(3), USEHRE has no financial incentive to favor any vendor or build competitive products. Our board includes representatives from diverse healthcare stakeholders, ensuring balanced governance. Our standards are open and free to implement—we charge only for certification services that verify correct implementation.
Think of us like: The WiFi Alliance (ensures devices interoperate), USB Implementers Forum (ensures USB devices work together), or W3C (web standards). We create the standards; vendors create the products.
USEHRE's AI research is fundamentally different from commercial AI companies—our work is open-source, non-profit, and designed to benefit everyone in healthcare, not maximize shareholder returns.
Research Focus Areas:
Our Open-Source Approach:
Collaboration Model:
Ethical AI Principles:
Real-World Applications:
Get Involved: Researchers, clinicians, and healthcare organizations can participate in our AI research. Contact [email protected] to learn about collaboration opportunities, access datasets, or contribute to model development.
USEHRE is launching with a strategic, phased approach that ensures sustainable growth while maintaining quality standards and local compliance.
Phase 1: United States Foundation (2025-2026)
Phase 2: Mexico Expansion (2026-2027)
Phase 3: Spain & European Union (2027-2029)
Phase 4: Global Expansion (2029+)
Consistent Elements Across All Phases:
Timeline: While we have target dates, actual expansion depends on successful pilot programs, regulatory approvals, and partnership development. Our priority is quality and sustainability over rapid growth.
USEHRE's board of directors provides strategic guidance, ensures ethical governance, and represents diverse healthcare stakeholders. We seek accomplished professionals passionate about healthcare interoperability.
Ideal Board Member Expertise:
Board Responsibilities:
Time Commitment:
What We Value:
Board Compensation: USEHRE board positions are volunteer (unpaid), though travel and meeting expenses are reimbursed. We believe in service-oriented governance focused on mission impact.
Application Process:
Current Openings: We're particularly seeking expertise in AI/machine learning, veterinary medicine, international healthcare regulations, and patient advocacy. However, exceptional candidates with other relevant backgrounds are always welcome to apply.
Certification timeline depends on your organization's starting point, technical resources, and system complexity. We work with you to create a realistic timeline that ensures quality implementation.
Typical Timeline Scenarios:
Detailed Process Timeline:
Phase 1: Initial Assessment (2-4 weeks)
Phase 2: Technical Implementation (Varies by System)
Phase 3: Security Audit (4-6 weeks)
Phase 4: Compliance Testing (2-3 weeks)
Phase 5: Final Review & Certification (1-2 weeks)
Factors Affecting Timeline:
Support Throughout Process:
Fast-Track Option: For organizations with urgent deadlines, we offer expedited certification with dedicated resources (additional fees apply). Fast-track can reduce timeline by 25-40% for qualified systems.
Get Started: Contact [email protected] for a preliminary assessment and customized timeline estimate for your organization.
USEHRE uses a fair, tiered pricing model designed to make certification accessible to organizations of all sizes while ensuring our sustainability as a non-profit.
Tiered Pricing Structure:
What's Included in Certification Fees:
Annual Recertification Fees:
Discounts & Financial Assistance:
Additional Optional Services (Separate Fees):
Why We Charge:
As a non-profit, certification fees support:
Transparency Commitment: All revenue from certification is reinvested in USEHRE's mission. Our Form 990 (non-profit tax filing) is publicly available showing exactly how funds are used. No money goes to private shareholders or owners because we don't have any—we're a true non-profit.
Get a Custom Quote: Every organization is different. Contact [email protected] with information about your organization to receive a detailed pricing proposal tailored to your specific situation. We'll work with you to find an affordable path to certification.
Free Consultation: Initial consultation and gap analysis estimate are always free—no obligation to proceed with certification.
Our team is here to help. Contact us for personalized assistance.