View source for Direct Messaging

== Description ==
A simple, secure, scalable, standards-based way for participants to send authenticated, encrypted health information directly to known, trusted recipients over the Internet.
* similar to email but more secure
* Sender and Receiver need to have a special type of email address called a “direct” address
* Sender and Receiver need to have a [[Direct_Messaging#Trust_Relationship|Trust Relationship]]
* Message is encrypted and hashed to prevent unauthorized access

== Trust Relationship ==
A trusted relationship means that either:
* Sender and Receiver have directly exchanged security certificates with each other OR
* Sender and Receiver are both members of the same [[Direct_Messaging#Trust_Bundle|Trust Bundle]]

== Trust Bundle ==
Trust bundles have emerged to eliminate the need to set up a one-to-one trust relationship.
* Participation in a Trust Bundle means that every participant has a Trust Relationship with every other participant, without the need to directly exchange security certificates
* DirectTrust is by far the most widely used trust bundle
* Membership in the DirectTrust Trust Bundle requires that at least one user per site go through the [[DirectTrust Activation]] process.

== DirectTrust Activation Purpose ==
The purpose of going through the activation process is so that all participants have had their identity validated to the same degree.
* A representative from each practice needs to complete the [[DirectTrust_Activation|activation]] process to validate their identify and relationship to the practice
* The representative needs to be someone with a National Provider ID (e.g. doctor or nurse)