What is Health Information Exchange?

The term "health information exchange" (HIE) actually encompasses two related concepts:

• Verb: The electronic sharing of health-related information among organizations
• Noun: An organization that provides services to enable the electronic sharing of health-related information

Why Health Information Exchange Is Important

The ability to exchange health information electronically is the foundation of efforts to improve health care quality and safety. HIE can provide:

• The connecting point for an organized, standardized process of data exchange across statewide, regional, and local initiatives
• The means to reduce duplication of services (resulting in lower health care costs)
• The means to reduce operational costs by automating many administrative tasks
• Governance and management of the data exchange process

Health Information Exchange Benefits: A Few Examples

• Provides a vehicle for  improving quality and safety of patient care
• Provides a basic level of interoperability among EHRs maintained by individual physicians and organizations
• Stimulates consumer education and patients' involvement in their own health care
• Helps public health officials meet their commitment to the community
• Creates a potential loop for feedback between health-related research and actual practice
• Facilitates efficient deployment of emerging technology and health care services
• Provides the backbone of technical infrastructure for leverage by national and State-level initiatives

The Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange

The Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange is a confederation of stakeholders at the forefront of health information exchange, including Federal agencies; State, regional, and local health information organizations; integrated delivery networks, and private organizations. Through this mechanism, stakeholders are coming together to develop and implement standards, services, and policies that foster secure health information exchange over the Internet.

Learn more about the Nationwide Health Information Network Exchange.

The State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program

To build the capacity for EHR information exchange nationwide, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology awards grants to States, eligible territories, and qualified State-designated entities to further develop governance, policies, technical services, business operations, and financing mechanisms.

Learn more about the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program.