Health Information Exchange (HIE)

Health Information Exchange (HIE)

Introduction

The need of exchanging data has dramatically increased both within the geographic distant as well as structure health. The paper will discuss the history of HIE (health information exchange), current challenges, and ways to overcome them. The primary purpose of the Health Information Exchange System is to provide effective information support to agencies and organizations, health systems, as well as citizens in the processes of health care management and direct provision (Fricton and Davies, n.d.). 

The system will provide a solution to complex problems in the following areas: management efficiency in the health sector on the basis of information support tasks of forecasting and planning costs for medical care, as well as monitoring compliance with government guarantees on the volume and quality of its provision; improving the quality of care through improved information management activities of medical and pharmaceutical organizations, their staff, students, medical and pharmaceutical vocational and higher education institutions, research organizations; raising awareness about healthy lifestyles, disease prevention and health care, as well as quality of service organizations on implementation of public health by providing opportunities for electronic interaction with the respective authorities (Vest and Gamm, 2010).

Discussion

History of HIE

Efforts to implement HIE in the United States are underway for the last two decades. The basis of its establishment is traced back to the creation of the Community Heath Management Foundation in 1990 (CMS, n.d.). It was established to foster the basis of a centralized data warehouse in seven differently defined geographic countries.

With the passage of time the health information exchange took pace in the country and its use started being promoted by the government. The American Recovery and the Investment Act of 2009 promoted the use of HIE. This act includes the health information technology for economic and clinical health act (HITECH), that supports organizations to implement EHRs and the use of health information exchange with negative and positive reinforcements (Oracle, 2011). Along with the United States of America, other nations also passed legislation supporting the adoption of HIE, such as England, Australia, and Canada.

The Challenges

Exchange of Information

The health information is created and stored in fragmented ways, which is why the personal health information is not sued in its fullest potential in order to support the effective and efficient care. The health information systems are secluded within physician's practices, hospitals, pharmacies, or the laboratories (Assuli and Leshno 2013). Although, alteration in reliance on multiple providers, insurance coverage, and augment specialty care add further potentially relevant information but this information is also desperate, fragmented and non-systematic.

Currently there are three forms in which the health information is exchanged through this system:

Directed Exchange: It is an ability to send and receive information electronically between health care professionals and patients to support a coordinated care. This kind of exchange is used by the providers to securely and easily send information of patient, for instance laboratory results, discharge summaries or the patient referrals, directly to the other clinicians as well as other health professionals. This information is usually ...