---
title: Integration & Production
slug: record-locator-exchange-ihe/guide/integration-and-production
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-06-02T15:12:10.389Z
---

## Integration Process

When a customer begins integrating a Surescripts product into their application(s), they will be provided access to all the Surescripts documentation pertaining to the product being implemented. In addition, customers will be provided access to the staging environment to design, develop and test the product integration within their application.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note: **The time frame of the project can vary depending on the customer's resource allocation for the project.
:::

**Meeting Requirements**

During Integration, customers will ensure their system has met all product requirements. The message validation testing will focus on message format, application workflow and display in accordance with Surescripts documentation. Upon successful completion of message validation and, when applicable, other pre-production network requirements (e.g., Identity Proofing, Attestations, DEA audit), customers will be enabled in production.

For requirements, consider the following:

- To ensure high-quality transactions, Surescripts applies additional business rules above and beyond the schema defined requirements that will cause a message to be successful or rejected.
- Surescripts test cases do not cover all possible scenarios in production. Customers are responsible for testing any other applicable scenarios specific to their production environment.
- In accordance with the customer’s legal agreement with Surescripts, each customer is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws including, but not limited to, local and state laws/regulations where doing business.

## Transition to Production

Once message validation testing is complete and the contract is approved, the customer is ready to move into production. Surescripts will configure the production connection and ensure successful operations with the customer.

Before moving to production, Surescripts Account Management will collaborate with the customer and internal Surescripts teams to review the following items:

- **Production support contacts**
  To be captured in an Escalation Matrix—a tool that specifies how Surescripts should contact customers for support needs, including case routing and escalation paths.
- **Support process and training**
- **Support availability**

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note: **The Escalation Matrix for use by Surescripts customers can be found in the *Network Operations Guide*.
:::

## Surescripts Terminology Usage

For terminology usage throughout this guide, consider the following:

| **Term** | **Term usage**                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| must     | Requirements that are enforced as part of the production code or Surescripts business rules.                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| should   | Used for guidance and best practices to produce superior results and enhance electronic messaging. Best practices can also be found in the Best Practice sections. Customers are encouraged, but not required, to meet best practices in order to be certified on the Surescripts network. |

## Timeouts

For timeouts, consider the following:

- When sending a message to Surescripts the timeout period for the responder is the following for these messages:
  - XCPD ITI-55 (Cross Community Patient Discovery) – 30 seconds
  - XCA Query ITI – 38 (Cross-Community Access) – 120 seconds
  - XCA Retrieve ITI – 39 (Cross-Community Retrieve) – 300 seconds

## Connectivity HTTPS

Refer to the Mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) information in the Surescripts Connectivity & Authentication Implementation Guide.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note: **For RLE, the use of Carequality issued client certificates is preferred, but not required. Alternatively, Surescripts will issue a certificate, if needed.
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