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How can health information exchange (HIE) facilitate coordination of health services and care for children?

The National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) in a report (PDF - 601KB) prepared for the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, defined health information exchange (HIE) as the electronic movement of health-related information, such as clinical and insurance data, between organizations according to nationally recognized standards. Improved information sharing has the potential to advance health care on many fronts, including quality, cost, and safety. For example, HIE can facilitate the electronic transmittal of laboratory data, allowing providers in different organizations to have access to a child's latest test results, thereby preventing duplicate testing.

Growing efforts in HIE are creating new opportunities for individuals and organizations involved in the care of a child to more effectively share and collect information concerning the child. HIEs provide the cultural and technical components that make data sharing possible. For example, as organizations, HIEs provide governing structures to manage the exchange of data and the networks over which data flow.

The resources below provide an overview of some key concepts in the area of HIE:

• AHRQ: Primer on HIE
• HRSA Health IT Adoption Toolbox: Health Information Exchange