Challenge Statement
While there are efforts to address data provenance, no existing authoritative specification, standard, or model for provenance has been commonly adopted to-date within the context of HIT. This is exemplified by the variance in how HIEs, EHRs, and PHRs currently capture, retain, and display provenance. This variability is problematic for the interoperable exchange (system interoperation), integration, and interpretation of health data.
Even current health information standards, such as the CDA, lack guidance for handling data provenance. Additionally, the receipt and integration of provenance information is equally variable and dependent upon system capabilities. Further challenges are presented if one system can share detailed provenance data but those receiving it cannot process the level of detail exchanged.