Health information exchange
Health information exchange is the mobilization of health care information electronically across organizations within a region, community or hospital system. Participants in data exchange are called in the aggregate Health Information Networks. In practice the term HIE may also refer to the health information organization that facilitates the exchange.
HIE provides the capability to electronically move clinical information among different health care information systems. The goal of HIE is to facilitate access to and retrieval of clinical data to provide safer and more timely, efficient, effective, and equitable patient-centered care, which may also be useful to public health authorities in analyses of the health of the population.
HIE systems facilitate the efforts of physicians and clinicians to meet high standards of patient care through electronic participation in a patient's continuity of care with multiple providers. Secondary health care provider benefits include reduced expenses associated with:
- the manual printing, scanning and faxing of documents, including paper and ink costs, as well as the maintenance of associated office machinery
- the physical mailing of patient charts and records, and phone communication to verify delivery of traditional communications, referrals, and test results
- the time and effort involved in recovering missing patient information, including any duplicate tests required to recover such information
Formal organizations are now emerging to provide both form and function for health information exchange efforts, both on independent and governmental or regional levels. These organizations are, in many cases, enabled and supported financially by statewide health information exchange grants from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. These grants were legislated into the HITECH components of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The latter organizations are ordinarily geographically defined entities which develop and manage a set of contractual conventions and terms, arrange for the means of electronic exchange of information, and develop and maintain HIE standards.
In the United States, federal and state regulations regarding HIEs and HIT are still being defined. Federal regulations and incentive programs such as "Meaningful Use", which is formally known as the EHR Incentive Program, are rapidly changing the face of this relatively new industry. In addition to changes driven by federal activities, the lessons learned in the ongoing implementation of some state-sponsored HIEs and the fluctuating nature of health care regulations at the level of the state governments themselves are leading to additional refinement. However, HIEs and RHIOs continue to struggle to achieve self-sustainability and the vast majority remain tied to federal, state, or independent grant funding in order to remain operational. Some exceptions exist, such as the Indiana HIE.
Storage and gathering of information
Data architecture models
There are two main models for the data architecture of health information exchanges. One is a federated, or decentralized model, and the second is a centralized one. There is also a hybrid model that contains elements of both. In a centralized HIE there is a central database which holds a complete copy of all of the records of every patient contained in the HIE. In a federated HIE there is no master database.In a federated model, each health care provider is responsible for maintaining the records of their individual patients. In this model, the main function of the HIE is to facilitate the exchange of patient records among providers as the need arises. For example, if a physician in a federated HIE requests the records of a query is sent to each server in the system asking to return any records that they have pertaining to. Each federated HIE may accomplish this in a slightly different way, but the salient distinction is that in a federated model there is no central database from which a previously compiled comprehensive medical record is stored and can be downloaded.
In short, in a federated HIE, records are exchanged electronically among providers when they need them. In a centralized model, all patient information is uploaded to a single database from which any provider in the HIE can download a patient's full medical record.
Patient consent
Exchanges in the US must operate with patient consent to comply with not only the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, but a variety of state and federal laws and regulations. This was clarified by the Office of Civil Rights in the January 2013 Final Omnibus Rule Update to HIPAA.There are two methods for gaining patient consent. One is explicit consent and is termed opt-in. With this method, a patient is not automatically enrolled into the HIE by default and generally must submit a written request to join the exchange.
The other method is implicit patient consent and is termed opt-out. In this method patients give implicit consent to join an HIE when they agree to use the services of a health care provider who is submitting data into an HIE and sign the provider's Notice Of Privacy Practices. In this model patients can request to opt out of the HIE, generally with a written form.
Under the provisions of Title 45, §164.522, however, medical providers are not obligated to agree to restrict a patient's records and can freely exchange patients records via the various HIEs.
List of European health information exchanges
The Netherlands
;Frysian Health Information ExchangeNorth of the Netherlands – XDS Network
Hospitals in the Dutch provinces Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe have created an image exchange network in order to phase out CD/DVD based exchanges using an IHE platform. St. , the local HIE organization has gradually expanded the network since 2014, spanning 10 hospitals to date. Diagnostic images and related reports are to support a number of use-cases including radiology referrals to the Academic Medical Center Groningen, radiotherapy treatments, CVA Stroke and proton therapy. The HIE network has development a number of cross-enterprise workflows using IHE .Other Dutch HIEs
- ZorgNetOost
- Radboud University Medical Center
- Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis
- Limburg Exchange Network – Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastro Radiation Therapy Institute, Laurentius Hospital
- Image Exchange South East-Brabant – Maxima Medical Center, Elkerliek Hospital, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, St. Anna Hospital
- Regional Exchange Network West-Brabant
- Image Exchange Network Breda – Amphia Hospital, BVI, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital
- Rotterdam Exchange Network RijnmondNet
- TRIJN
- Zorgring Noord-Holland Noord
United Kingdom
- Sussex and Surrey
- Great Ormond Street
Ireland
- NIMIS
Finland
- Helsinki-Uusimaa Health district
List of United States health information exchanges
Overview
State | Name | Oversight agency |
Alabama | Alabama Medicaid HIE | Alabama Medicaid Agency |
Alabama | One Health Record Alabama | Alabama Medicaid Agency |
Alaska | Alaska eHealth Network | Alaska Department of Health and Social Services |
American Samoa | American Samoa Health Information Exchange | American Samoa Department of Health |
Arizona | Arizona Governor's Office of Health Information Exchange | |
Arkansas | SHARE | Arkansas Office of Health Information Technology |
California | Brown & Toland Medical Group | California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | CAReHIN | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Central Coast Health Connect | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Connect Healthcare | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Dignity Health | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | E Health California | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Healthcare Partners | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Hill Physicians | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Hoag HIE | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Huntington Hospital | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | John Muir Health | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Kaiser Permanente | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | LANES LA | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Manifest MedEx | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Memorial Healthcare System | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | North Coast Health Information Network | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | One California Partnership Regional Health Information Organization | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Palo Alto Medical Foundation | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | RAIN-Live Oak | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Redwood Mednet | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Sac Valley Medshare | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | St. Joseph Health System | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | San Diego Health Connect | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | San Joaquin Community HIE | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | San Francisco General Hospital | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | San Mateo Medical Center | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Santa Cruz HIE | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Sharp Healthcare | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Sutter Health | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Tulare Kings Foundation for Medical Care | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
California | Vigilance Health | State of California Office of Health Information Integrity |
Colorado | CORHIO | Colorado Regional Health Information Organization |
Colorado | Quality Health Network | Colorado Regional Health Information Organization |
Connecticut | Western Connecticut Health Network | State of Connecticut Department of Public Health |
Connecticut | ERICCA | State of Connecticut Department of Public Health |
Delaware | DHIN | Delaware Health Information Network |
District of Columbia | CRISP | District of Columbia Department of Health |
Florida | Florida Health Information Exchange | Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration |
Memorial Healthcare System | ||
Florida | University of Florida Health | |
Strategic Health Intelligence | ||
Broward Health | ||
Bethesda Health | ||
Tampa Bay HIE | ||
Florida | Florida Hospital/Adventist | |
Community Health IT - MyHealthStory | ||
Florida | Florida Accountable Care Services | |
Senior Home Care | ||
Georgia | ArcHIE | Georgia Department of Community Health |
Georgia | Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council | Georgia Department of Community Health |
Georgia | GA Telehealth | Georgia Department of Community Health |
Georgia | Georgia Health Information Network | Georgia Department of Community Health |
Georgia | GracHIE | Georgia Department of Community Health |
Georgia | HealtheConnection | Georgia Department of Community Health |
Georgia | West Georgia Health System | Georgia Department of Community Health |
Guam | Guam HIE | Guam Department of Health |
Hawaii | Hawaii HIE | Hawaii Health Information Exchange |
Idaho | IHDE | Idaho Health Data Exchange |
Illinois | Illinois Health Information Exchange | Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services |
Indiana | HealthBridge Inc. | Indiana Health Information Technology |
Indiana | HealthLINC Inc. | Indiana Health Information Technology |
Indiana | Indiana Health Information Exchange Inc. | Indiana Health Information Technology |
Indiana & Michigan | Michiana Health Information Network, LLC | Indiana Health Information Technology & Michigan Department of Health |
Iowa | Iowa Health Information Network | Iowa Department of Public Health |
Kansas | Kansas Department of Health and Environment | |
Kansas | Lewis & Clark Information Exchange | Kansas Department of Health and Environment |
Kentucky | Kentucky Health Information Exchange | Cabinet for Health and Family Services |
Louisiana | LaHIE | Louisiana Health Care Quality Forum |
Maine | HealthInfoNet | Maine Office of Health and Policy Finance |
Maryland | CRISP | Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene |
Massachusetts | Mass HIway | MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services |
Michigan | Administrative Network Technology Solutions | Michigan Department of Health |
Michigan | Michigan Department of Health | |
Michigan | Henry Ford Health System | Michigan Department of Health |
Michigan | Ingenium | Michigan Department of Health |
Michigan | Jackson Community Medical Record | Michigan Department of Health |
Michigan & Indiana | Michiana Health Information Network | Michigan Department of Health & Indiana Health Information Technology |
Michigan | Northern Physicians Organization | Michigan Department of Health |
Michigan | PCE Systems | Michigan Department of Health |
Michigan | Southeast health Information Exchange | Michigan Department of Health |
Michigan | Upper Penninusla Health Information Exchange | Michigan Department of Health |
Minnesota | Emdeon | Minnesota Department of Health |
Mississippi | Mississippi Health Information Network | Mississippi Department of Health |
Missouri | Lewis & Clark Information Exchange | Missouri Department of Social Services |
Missouri | Missouri Health Connection | Missouri Department of Social Services |
Missouri | Tiger Institute Health Alliance | Missouri Department of Social Services |
Montana | HealthShare Montana | Montana Designated Health Information Exchange Organization |
Nebraska | Nebraska Health Information Initiative | Nebraska Department of Administrative Services |
Nevada | HealtHIE Nevada | Nevada Department of Health and Human Services |
New Hampshire | NHHIO | New Hampshire Health Information Organization |
New Jersey | Camden Coalition | New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority |
New Jersey | Health-e-cITi | New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority |
New Jersey | Jersey Health Connect | New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority |
New Jersey | New Jersey HiTec | New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority |
New Mexico | New Mexico Health Information Connection | LCF Research, New Mexico |
New York | Bronx RHIO | New York eHealth Collaborative |
New York | Health e Connections | New York eHealth Collaborative |
New York | Health Information New York | New York eHealth Collaborative |
New York | Healthix | New York eHealth Collaborative |
New York | HEALTH e LINK | New York eHealth Collaborative |
New York | Healthlink NY | New York eHealth Collaborative |
New York | Rochester NY RHIO | New York eHealth Collaborative |
New York | Southern Tier Health Link | New York eHealth Collaborative |
North Carolina | Coastal Connect Health Information Exchange | North Carolina Department of State Treasurer |
North Carolina | North Carolina HIE | North Carolina Department of State Treasurer |
North Carolina | Western North Carolina Data Link | North Carolina Department of State Treasurer |
North Dakota | North Dakota Health Information Network | State of North Dakota, Dept. of Information Technology |
Northern Mariana Islands | Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands | |
Ohio | CliniSync | Ohio Health Information Partnership |
Ohio | Greater Dayton Area HIN | Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association |
Ohio | HealthBridge | Healthcare Collaborative of Cincinnati |
Oklahoma | Coordinated Care Oklahoma | Oklahoma Health Care Authority |
Oklahoma | My Health Access Network | Oklahoma Health Care Authority |
Oregon | Care Accord Oregon's State Information Exchange | Oregon Health Authority |
Oregon | Reliance eHealth Collaborative | Oregon Health Authority |
Pennsylvania | HealthShare Exchange of Southeastern PA | Pennsylvania e Health Authority |
Pennsylvania | ClinicalConnect Health Information Exchange | Pennsylvania eHealth Authority |
Pennsylvania | Keystone Health Information Exchange | Pennsylvania eHealth Authority |
Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Health Information Network | La Fortaleza Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico |
Rhode Island | Rhode Island Quality Institute | Rhode Island Department of Health |
South Carolina | South Carolina Health Information Exchange | South Carolina Department of Health & Human Services |
South Dakota | South Dakota Health Link | South Dakota Department of Health |
Tennessee | East TN Health Information Network | State of Tennessee Office of eHealth Initiatives |
Texas | First Net | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | Greater Houston Healthconnect | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | Healthcare Access San Antonio | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | Health Information of South Texas | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | HIE Texas | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | Pasa Del Norte Health Information Exchange | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | Rio Grand HIE | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | Rio One HIE | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
Texas | SETHS Operated Provider HIE | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
U.S. Virgin Islands | Virgin Islands Department of Health | |
Utah | Utah Health Information Network | Utah Department of Health |
Vermont | Vermont Information Technology Leaders Inc. | Vermont Agency of Human Services |
Virginia | Connect Virginia | Virginia Department of Health |
Washington | OneHealthPort HIE | Washington Healthcare Authority |
Washington | North Shore Medical Group | Washington Healthcare Authority |
Washington | Skyline Hospital | Washington Healthcare Authority |
West Virginia | West Virginia Health Information Network | West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources |
Wisconsin | WISHIN Pulse | Wisconsin Department of Health Services |
Wyoming | Wyoming e-Health Partnership | State of Wyoming Office of the Governor |
Individual exchanges
;Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients;Health Current, formerly Arizona Health-e Connection
;CORHIO - the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization
;Delaware Health Information Network
;Great Lakes Health Connect
;HealthShare Exchange of Southeastern PA
;Idaho Health Data Exchange
;Indiana Health Information Exchange
;Kansas Health Information Network
;Keystone Health Information Exchange
; Michiana Health Information Network
;Missouri Health Connection
; Ohio Health Information Partnership — CliniSync HIE
;Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority
;Utah Health Information Network