How community health information exchanges can evolve to support population health and healthcare: The case study of the Indiana Network for Patient Care (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karmen Williams ◽  
Saurabh Rahurkar ◽  
Brian Dixon ◽  
Shaun Grannis ◽  
Titus Schleyer
Keyword(s):  
Patient Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
The Status

BACKGROUND Community Health Information Exchange (HIEs) organizations were originally designed to support individual patient care, but their ability to aggregate health and non-health information about populations offers significant opportunities. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to discuss and illustrate current opportunities for HIEs using the status and trajectory of the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC), the oldest and one of the largest HIEs in the United States. METHODS We reviewed the research and clinical applications the INPC has developed and introduced numerous innovations and initiatives. RESULTS HIEs have the positioning and opportunity to provide highly relevant services in today’s healthcare, and public and population health contexts, such as research-ready data sets, state registry collaborations, data commons, population health applications, clinical applications, nationwide interoperability, and support of accountable care organizations. CONCLUSIONS Community HIEs can help advance the practice of medicine and population health and help shift sick-focused to health-focused care. To fully take advantage of their potential, community HIEs must continue to innovate and evolve.

Regional and Community Health Information Exchange in the United States

2011 ◽  
pp. 198-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adi V. Gundlapalli ◽  
Jonathan H. Reid ◽  
Jan Root ◽  
Wu Xu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
Business Case ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Secure Information

A fundamental premise of continuity in patient care and safety suggests timely sharing of health information among different providers at the point of care and after the visit. In most healthcare systems, this is achieved through exchange of written medical information, phone calls and conversations. In an ideal world, this exchange of health information between disparate providers, healthcare systems, laboratories, pharmacies and payers would be achieved electronically and seamlessly. The potential benefits of electronic health exchange are improved patient care, increased efficiency of the healthcare system and decreased costs. The reality is that health information is electronically exchanged only to a limited extent within local communities and regions, much less nationally and internationally. One main challenge has been the inability of health information exchange organizations to develop a solid business case. Other challenges have been socio-political in that data ownership and stewardship have not been clearly resolved. Technological improvements over the past 20 years have provided significant advances towards safe and secure information exchange. This chapter provides a general overview of community health information exchange in the United States of America, its history and details of challenges faced by stakeholders. The lessons learned from successes and failures, research and knowledge gaps and future prospects are also discussed. Current and future technologies to facilitate and invigorate health information exchange are highlighted. Two examples of successful regional health information exchanges in the US states of Utah and Indiana are highlighted.

Regional and Community Health Information Exchange in the United States

2011 ◽  
pp. 1470-1490
Author(s):  
Adi V. Gundlapalli ◽  
Jonathan H. Reid ◽  
Jan Root ◽  
Wu Xu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
Business Case ◽  
The United States ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Secure Information

A fundamental premise of continuity in patient care and safety suggests timely sharing of health information among different providers at the point of care and after the visit. In most healthcare systems, this is achieved through exchange of written medical information, phone calls and conversations. In an ideal world, this exchange of health information between disparate providers, healthcare systems, laboratories, pharmacies and payers would be achieved electronically and seamlessly. The potential benefits of electronic health exchange are improved patient care, increased efficiency of the healthcare system and decreased costs. The reality is that health information is electronically exchanged only to a limited extent within local communities and regions, much less nationally and internationally. One main challenge has been the inability of health information exchange organizations to develop a solid business case. Other challenges have been socio-political in that data ownership and stewardship have not been clearly resolved. Technological improvements over the past 20 years have provided significant advances towards safe and secure information exchange. This chapter provides a general overview of community health information exchange in the United States of America, its history and details of challenges faced by stakeholders. The lessons learned from successes and failures, research and knowledge gaps and future prospects are also discussed. Current and future technologies to facilitate and invigorate health information exchange are highlighted. Two examples of successful regional health information exchanges in the US states of Utah and Indiana are highlighted.

scholarly journals State of the Art in Clinical Informatics: Evidence and Examples

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (01) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. McCoy ◽  
A. Wright ◽  
G. Eysenbach ◽  
B. A. Malin ◽  
E. S. Patterson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Informatics ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Informatics ◽  
Privacy And Security ◽  
Health Records

Summary Objective: The field of clinical informatics has expanded substantially in the six decades since its inception. Early research focused on simple demonstrations that health information technology (HIT) such as electronic health records (EHRs), computerized provider order entry (CPOE), and clinical decision support (CDS) systems were feasible and potentially beneficial in clinical practice. Methods: In this review, we present recent evidence on clinical informatics in the United States covering three themes: 1) clinical informatics systems and interventions for providers, including EHRs, CPOE, CDS, and health information exchange; 2) consumer health informatics systems, including personal health records and web-based and mobile HIT; and 3) methods and governance for clinical informatics, including EHR usability; data mining, text mining, natural language processing, privacy, and security. Results: Substantial progress has been made in demonstrating that various clinical informatics methodologies and applications improve the structure, process, and outcomes of various facets of the healthcare system. Conclusion: Over the coming years, much more will be expected from the field. As we move past the “early adopters” in Rogers' diffusion of innovations' curve through the “early majority” and into the “late majority,” there will be a crucial need for new research methodologies and clinical applications that have been rigorously demonstrated to work (i.e., to improve health outcomes) in multiple settings with different types of patients and clinicians.

scholarly journals Hospital adoption of multiple health information exchange approaches and information accessibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-583
Author(s):  
Jordan Everson ◽  
Evan Butler
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Integration ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
The United States ◽  
Secure Messaging ◽  
American Hospital ◽  
American Hospital Association ◽  
Percentage Points

Abstract Objective Hospital engagement in electronic health information exchange (HIE) has increased over recent years. We aimed to 1) determine the change in adoption of 3 types of information exchange: secure messaging, provider portals, and use of an HIE; and 2) to assess if growth in each approach corresponded to increased ability to access and integrate patient information from outside providers. Methods Panel analysis of all nonfederal, acute care hospitals in the United States using hospital- and year-fixed effects. The sample consisted of 1917 hospitals that responded to the American Hospital Association Information Technology Supplement every year from 2014 to 2016. Results Adoption of each approach increased by 9–15 percentage points over the study period. The average number of HIE approaches used by each hospital increased from 1.0 to 1.4. Adoption of each approach was associated with increased likelihood that providers routinely had necessary outside information of 4.2–12.7 percentage points and 4.5–13.3 percentage points increase in information integration. Secure messaging was associated with the largest increase in both. Adoption of 1 approach increased the likelihood of having outside information by 10.3 percentage points, while adopting a second approach further increased the likelihood by 9.5 percentage points. Trends in number of approaches and integration were similar. Discussion/Conclusion No single HIE tool provided high levels of usable, integrated health information. Instead, hospitals benefited from adopting multiple tools. Policy initiatives that reduce the complexity of enabling high value HIE could result in broader adoption of HIE and use of information to inform care.

scholarly journals Identifying Barriers That Prevent the Usage of Health Information Exchange in Ohio

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 148-156
Author(s):  
Aaron J. Lengel ◽  
Elise M. L. Carpenter ◽  
Andrew G. Azzi ◽  
Kristen L. DiDonato
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Community Pharmacy ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
Grocery Store ◽  
Clinical Services ◽  
Care Providers

Background: As clinical services expand in community pharmacies, access to patient information through a health information exchange (HIE) may be of increased benefit to patient care. Objectives: To identify perceptions and barriers to the use of HIE by high-performing clinical pharmacists within a grocery store chain and collect other health care provider perceptions of using HIE. Methods: Two web-based surveys consisting of multiple choice, select all that apply, and 5-point Likert-type scale questions were administered via email to Ohio pharmacists working in high clinical performing pharmacies and Ohio health care providers utilizing CliniSync, an Ohio-based HIE program. Outcomes measured included pharmacist perceptions of preparedness to participate in HIE, their relationship with patients and health care providers, and barriers to utilizing HIE. Provider outcomes included perceptions of relationships with patients, awareness of community pharmacy services, referral habits, and perceived benefit of a HIE. Results: Pharmacists tend to believe they have the skill (median 5, interquartile range [IQR] 1) and desire (median 5, IQR 1) to be a part of the HIE network. Pharmacists appear confident in their abilities to provide patient care as a part of HIE networks (median 4, IQR 1). While 66% of providers surveyed are aware of services provided by community pharmacists, 75% state that they do not refer patients to a pharmacy for those services. Conclusion: Implementing HIE into clinical pharmacy workflow and encouraging providers to use it to make patient health information available to pharmacists would provide additional information for pharmacists to review when providing clinical services in the community pharmacy setting, ultimately benefiting patient care.

scholarly journals Surveillance of Stillbirth and Syphilis Screening Using Electronic Health Records

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian E Dixon ◽  
Jane Wang ◽  
Timothy E O'Connor ◽  
Janet N Arno
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
Congenital Syphilis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Syphilis Testing ◽  
Electronic Health

Objective: To measure stillbirth delivery rates and syphilis screening rates among women with a stillbirth delivery using electronic health record data available in a health information exchange.Introduction: Reports of infants born with congenital syphilis have increased in the United States every year since 2012. Prevention depends on high performing surveillance systems and compliance with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations to perform syphilis testing early in pregnancy, in the third trimester and at delivery if a woman is at high risk, and following a stillbirth delivery. These guidelines exist, because untreated syphilis is associated with adverse fetal outcomes including central nervous system infection and death.Surveillance of congenital syphilis and stillbirth is challenging because available data sources are limited. Assessment of compliance with testing guidelines is particularly challenging, since public health agencies often lack access to comprehensive cohorts of tested individuals as most public health laws only require reporting of positive disease case information.Methods: Using integrated electronic health records available in a community-based health information exchange, we examined syphilis testing patterns for women with a stillbirth delivery in Indiana between 2010-2016. The cohort was examined to determine whether the women received syphilis testing in accordance with the CDC recommendations. During this time period, Indiana recorded around 84,000 live births per year.Data were extracted from electronic health records, including encounter data, laboratory test results and procedure data, captured by the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC), one of the largest community-based HIE networks in the United States. The INPC connects over 90 health care facilities, including hospitals, physicians’ practices, pharmacy networks, long-term post-acute care facilities, laboratories, and radiology centers. In addition to clinical care, the INPC supports surveillance of STIs1.Women with a stillbirth delivery were identified using International Classification of Disease (ICD) Clinical Modification (CM) codes from the 9thand 10th editions (ICD-CM-9 and ICD-CM-10). Inclusion codes: ICD-CM-9 codes 656.4, 779.9, V27.1, V27.3, V27.4, V27.6, V27.7, V32.01, V32.1, V32.2, V36.1; and ICD-CM-10 codes P95, P96.9, O36.4, Z37.1, Z37.3, Z37.4, Z37.9.Using the master person index for the INPC, we linked stillbirth deliveries with pregnancy encounters and laboratory testing data. We analyzed documentation of syphilis testing during the pregnancy (up to 270 days prior to the stillbirth delivery) as well as after the stillbirth delivery (up to 30 days). Broad time ranges were utilized to account for potential delays in reporting of either the stillbirth delivery or the syphilis test results. Documentation could include either presence of a result from a laboratory test for syphilis or a CPT code (80055, 86780, 86781, 86592, 86593) indicating performance of a syphilis test.Results: A total of 4,361 stillbirth deliveries attributable to 4,265 unique women were identified in the INPC between 2010-2016; representing a rate of 7.44 stillbirths per 1,000 live births during the same time period. Of the stillbirth deliveries, syphilis testing occurred within 270 days prior to or 30 days after delivery for 2,763 (63.4%) cases. Figure 1 displays the number of stillbirth cases observed each year and the number of cases in which syphilis testing occurred during the pregnancy or after delivery.Conclusions: Using integrated electronic health records data, we discovered that fetal deaths occurred more frequently (7.44 versus 4.09 per 1,000) than previously estimated2 through fetal death reporting mechanisms in Indiana. Furthermore, we observed increasing rates of stillbirth within Indiana in recent years. Integrated data further enabled measurement of syphilis testing rates for stillbirth cases, which were similar to those reported by Patel et al.3using a large, national administrative data set. Testing rates in Indiana are well below the targets set by national and international public health organizations. Accessing more complete data on populations using a health information exchange is valuable, although doing so may uncover a more negative picture of health in one’s community. Deeper analysis of these trends is warranted to explore factors related to increasing rates as well as limited testing in this population.

scholarly journals The benefits of health information exchange: an updated systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1259-1265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nir Menachemi ◽  
Saurabh Rahurkar ◽  
Christopher A Harle ◽  
Joshua R Vest
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
New York ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Health Information Exchange ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Systematic Review ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objective Widespread health information exchange (HIE) is a national objective motivated by the promise of improved care and a reduction in costs. Previous reviews have found little rigorous evidence that HIE positively affects these anticipated benefits. However, early studies of HIE were methodologically limited. The purpose of the current study is to review the recent literature on the impact of HIE. Methods We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to conduct our systematic review. PubMed and Scopus databases were used to identify empirical articles that evaluated HIE in the context of a health care outcome. Results Our search strategy identified 24 articles that included 63 individual analyses. The majority of the studies were from the United States representing 9 states; and about 40% of the included analyses occurred in a handful of HIEs from the state of New York. Seven of the 24 studies used designs suitable for causal inference and all reported some beneficial effect from HIE; none reported adverse effects. Conclusions The current systematic review found that studies with more rigorous designs all reported benefits from HIE. Such benefits include fewer duplicated procedures, reduced imaging, lower costs, and improved patient safety. We also found that studies evaluating community HIEs were more likely to find benefits than studies that evaluated enterprise HIEs or vendor-mediated exchanges. Overall, these finding bode well for the HIEs ability to deliver on anticipated improvements in care delivery and reduction in costs.

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