A network the healthcare system can trust.

Connecting healthcare is not only a technology problem. It is also a question of trust: who sets the common rules, whose interests they serve, how patients’ rights are protected, and whether the people using the infrastructure can help improve it.

Smart Health Network’s governance brings together an accountable public-benefit operator, independent stewardship, patient-rights protection and participant experience.

The governance structure is established; remaining seats are being filled. The governing instruments define each body’s powers and appointment process.

Governance Council

Stewardship of a shared utility

A network serving many organizations needs rules that work beyond the interests of any one company.

The Governance Council safeguards SHN’s neutrality and provides independent oversight of important changes to the network’s common rules and economic commitments. Its long-term model is designed to give participating public jurisdictions a voice in that stewardship as the network grows.

Changes to Open Access designations require Governance Council approval. The commercial operator cannot make those changes on its own.

Data Rights Trust

An independent fiduciary for patients

People should not have to rely solely on the business interests of the organizations handling their information.

The Data Rights Trust independently oversees and protects patient data rights: privacy, access, consent and accountability for how information is used. It protects those rights as new participants, services and technologies become part of the network.

Patient information is not a commodity for SHN to sell. Protected patient rights are a foundation of the network, not a feature someone must purchase. The governing documents call those protections the Patient Rights Floor; changes to them require the highest approval threshold in the governing instruments.

The Rules also provide for a Data Rights Office that receives and investigates complaints from Members and Participants, including complaints about SHN, and reports the outcome. It is an SHN function, separate from the Data Rights Trust’s governance role.

Participant Advisory Council

Shaped by the people who use it

Providers, health plans and technology builders know where administrative work accumulates and what makes an implementation succeed or fail.

The Participant Advisory Council brings that experience into the development of network rules, standards and operations. Its role is advisory — it does not approve changes, but gives participants an organized forum to raise problems, recommend improvements and help the network evolve around real needs.

Smart Health Network PBC

Responsible for building and operating the service

Smart Health Network is a public benefit corporation. Its Board and management are responsible for the company, the common network and the services SHN provides.

This combines operating accountability with independent safeguards and participant input. The goal is infrastructure that can grow, improve and sustain itself while continuing to serve its public purpose.

What this means for participants

Your organization keeps its systems and healthcare decisions. It can work with competing organizations without giving any one of them control of the common infrastructure. Buying an optional service does not buy better network rights or a larger say in governance.

Common rules can evolve as technology and needs change. Independent oversight, patient protections and participant experience are built into how that happens.

Understand the framework. Help shape its development.

Contact the team for governing-document information, patient-rights questions or opportunities to contribute to the network’s development.

Governance inquiries: governance@smarthealthnetwork.org