Health information exchange

Health Information Exchange (HIE) is the electronic exchange of health care information across organizations within a region, community, or hospital system. Participants in this data exchange are collectively called Health Information Networks (HINs). HIE may also refer to the Health Information Organization (HIO) facilitating the exchange. HIE aims to facilitate access to and retrieval of clinical data, particularly to support public health authorities in analyzing the health of the population.

In the United States, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology supports statewide health information exchange through financial grants. These grants were legislated into the HITECH components of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.^[1] Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) are typically geographically defined entities that develop and manage contractual agreements, facilitate electronic information exchange, and establish and maintain HIE standards.^[2] Federal and state regulations regarding HIEs and health information technology (HIT) are still being defined. Federal regulations and incentive programs such as "Meaningful Use", formally known as the EHR Incentive Program,^[3][4] are changing. Most HIEs and RHIOs remain tied to federal, state, or independent grant funding to remain operational. Some exceptions exist, such as the Indiana HIE.^[5][6]