Health Information Exchange

Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139516” Health Information Exchange PAGEREF _Toc377139516 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139517” History of HIE PAGEREF _Toc377139517 h 2

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139518” The Challenge PAGEREF _Toc377139518 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139519” How health information currently is exchanged PAGEREF _Toc377139519 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139520” Privacy and security concerns PAGEREF _Toc377139520 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139521” Implementation of the system PAGEREF _Toc377139521 h 5

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139522” Benefits of HIE PAGEREF _Toc377139522 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139523” Underlying justification of HIE PAGEREF _Toc377139523 h 7

HYPERLINK l “_Toc377139524” References PAGEREF _Toc377139524 h 8

Health Information ExchangeHealth Information Exchange is a technological aspect of sharing health records of patients between hospitals, regions or health institutions. The mobilization of the health information in electronic form can attribute to the development of computer technology and its counterpart the internet. This has led to a system, globally that can help doctors and clinicians to share information, mostly their patients’ records for the benefit of the nation and the general public. In defining the subject within a health care scope rather than the technology viewpoint, we can gain immense knowledge health information exchange. When is health care information exchange used? The health care system is a complex one. It includes doctors in private hospitals, and institutions, and research centers. The majorities of the players in the system either support the information exchange or set up policies that govern the system the elements of a health information exchange according to Roop (2011), there are ten elements of health information exchange. These include stakeholder engagement, stakeholder trust, clearly articulated vision and values, maximum functionality. Others include, documented milestones, strong management to lead the team. This is ensured, one; flexibility and two; efficiency of the system. The elements are further discussed in the paper, further our understanding of the healthcare information exchange. There are several establishments of health care exchange institutions.

The communities are independent from government while others dependent on the government system. This issue here is to provide a platform for both the private and the public players in the health care system. This research paper discusses the history of health care information system exchange, the challenges of health care information exchange and the remedy to the challenges.

In health care, the health information exchange is guarded by the policies that government implements. Since it concerns the citizen, the government and any involved institution must follow strict regulations not to breach any privacy laws. This includes the doctors and other employees. In health care, the health information exchange is guarded by the policies that government implements. Since it concerns the citizen, the government and any involved institution must follow strict regulations not to breach any privacy laws. This includes the doctors and other employees.

History of HIEIn the 1980s and the 1990s the concept of health information exchange was conceptualized by several institutions. Health care organization adapted to interoperability as a solution to solving the problem of patient information exchange. Organizations like Intermountain HealthCare, and Wishard Memorial Hospital demonstrated the need for HIE. In 2010, there was a milestone achievement in the health care community. In March 2010, ONC announced the state health information or State HIE. The State HIE efforts are to build capacity and platform for exchange of health information across the health care information system in between the states, and the nation. The history of health information exchange came as part of the technology boom. Since the dawn of the computer and the internet, there has been inter organizational systems enabled the exchange of information between them. The need to share information was critical in defining efficient, effective means of offering. In the past two years, health information exchanges (HIEs) have experienced a rapid makeover. Achieving sustainability and increasing functionality. These two points optimize the need to satisfy health care institutions.

The threatening fact that pushed the evolution and implementation was the publication of “to err is human” Institute of Medicine Report (1999), reported health of Americans was in threat, there was a move to address the matter quickly. Mechanisms are placed to set up health information exchanges that could help the public health.

The ChallengeThe issues associated with technology and computers haunt every technological aspect of any system. For the health care systems, the challenges come about as part of privacy concerns, ethical issues, and security concerns. A second category of problems or challenges facing health care information exchange can be identified by the information itself. For instance, fragmented personal health information.

How health information currently is exchangedHealth information exchange is attributed to the increased public health systems. From sharing patient information and data between health institutions, health care community can benefit immensely. Health care information exchange is used to share patient records in public hospitals, research centers based on health issues associated.

Privacy and security concerns

Health information exchange plays an important role in the society. Its implementation means it is data driven technology. Diana Manos (2007) identifies that the issues with privacy is a hurdle that hinders the progress of health information exchange. According to the article, she attributes the issue to lack of trust among shareholders; the implemented business model needs that hospital, employers and insurers exchange patient health information without consent from patients. Privacy breach is eminent in this kind of situation. Without consulting the American patients’ records and use of the same without permission is a breach of privacy laws.

Privacy issues in the health care information exchange can be addressed by allowing the main shareholders; the American patients take control of their information. They allow access and utilization of any information they deem possible to be restricted and not be used in their context.

Identity management, the need to identify and accurately share information is a hurdle for HIEs. To maintain data or patients information integrity, there is need to define how the identification of a patients info ration can be linked to the source or the data provider. A clear relation between the two can mean a lot to the health care information exchange. The possible solution is to implement of a universal or nationwide registry. The registry can identify the patient information and link them to the source. This can either be an insurance company, a pharmacy or a governmental hospital.

Fragmented personal challenge to the health care information exchange. The need to consolidate patient’s health records is one major challenge faced by the health care community. Without better information management systems to identify information in the health care information exchange, the system’s efficiency can be ruined hindering exchange of information between health organization and other institutions.

Interoperability challenges, interoperability is the bridging of two or more systems, different in implementation, processing and usage can be related together. In this context, the health care information exchange systems. The need to define how different health care systems operate is a challenge posed to the stakeholders and the government. The solution for interoperability is to develop a standard platform for all health care information exchange in the nation. The standardized platform must be inclusive of the small and larger health care information exchange systems.

Changes in insurance cover, and rely on multiple insurance providers. The insurance community plays a major role in health information exchange. In the US, insurance issuers with different products tailored for different patients. They need to be unique by a business in the insurance industry possess as a hurdle for healthcare information exchange. This issuance of different insurance policies to the public can cause problems in the health community. From a technical viewpoint, there will be the need to integrate every policy issued into the system. It also depends on the rate of change of the policies. Insurance companies do change their policies to fit the customers. The rates directly affect how health care information exchange works. Meaning, several updates to the patient records must be available from the insurance and or any other source deemed relevant by the health care community.

Another challenge facing the health information exchange is the increase in specialist care. Specialty-care means a completely dissimilar set of records patients. Since specialty care involves special treatment, there can be situations where lack of complete information on a patient compromises the health care information exchange. A doctor asking for a complete patient record might find it hard to check the health background of the patient.

Implementation of the systemImplementation of healthcare information exchange has been on the rise since its realization in 2010. Through health care information exchange, physicians can improve collaboration locally and between states. From a technical standpoint, the information can be used to identify patients in the nation, delivering a new way of person credentials.

Benefits of HIEWhen computers were invented there was the need to process, disseminate and store large amount of information. This concept enables the information sharing concept businesses aspect. Health care is one category that has seen radical changes in using technology. Application of health information exchange has brought about benefits to the health care community. The following benefits are identified for implementation of health information exchange. Health information exchange provides a platform for improving “quality and safety of patients”, reports a HealthIT (2009) report by minimizing medication and medical errors. Human is to error, and the issuance of double medication or test can be avoided by using heath information exchange systems. The system will automatically update the patient’s record keeping it up to date. Secondly, it encourages end user education and “patients’ involvement in their own health care by allowing them to access information from different location” HealthIT (2009). The involvement is important to maintaining patient data integrity.

Perhaps the most tiring processes in health care are the amount of paperwork. Heavily dependent on paperwork, to store information on their patients. Electronic storage of the same data in health information exchange systems increases the efficiency by eliminating paperwork. For instance, is a physician can request a background check on a patient to administer medication; they can just referee to the available records from other health care institution through the health information exchange. More to the heath information exchange is the support tools that provide doctors, nurses and clinicians with “decision support tools for more effective treatment and care” Menachemi (2012), to the patient. This can be a decision support tools that help the doctors make decisions on a patient’s health.

Once a test is carried out on a patient, there will be no need to carry out subsequent tests on the same patient. This eliminates the issue with redundant or unnecessary testing of the patient since there are records showing the test data. Wager (2013) states, health care reports rely heavily on patients’ records from different hospitals and Medicare establishments. The government and non-profit organizations can also access information form the health information exchange to publish reports and monitoring health of the nation. In addition benefits include, a feedback options to the health related research community and the actual application of research results in the health care community. The feedback mechanism is important because it enhances health research. Health information exchange (HIE) facilitate efficient and successful deployment of new and emerging technology into the health care services. This leads to reduce health related costs for the general public. It also provides a foundation of technical structure for control by national initiatives. Lastly, the health information exchange “provides a lower level of interoperability among electronic health records (EHRs)” holds Wager (2013), which is “maintained by individual physicians and organizations”, Wager (2013),. Interoperability demonstrates how information sharing can be beneficial in health care.

Underlying justification of HIEReferencing from the benefits stated above, the need to implement an HIE is important in that it streamlines the process of health care in the nation. Its justification is completely acceptable in that it far outweigh its shortcoming to provide a platform for research and health care practices.

Role of networks

The role of networks in the health information exchange is basic. The available network links different health care systems to each other and enable the transmission of data and patient records in different formats. The need for data exchange between physicians is met through record sharing of patient’s health data..

Privacy and security

Privacy of information in the internet age is a challenging fact. The issue of a patient’s record being used contrary to the agreement states is a privacy breach. Diana (2007) indicts the process of revealing user information to the mistrusts among shareholder, including health care bodies, private clinics and hospitals.

ReferencesElizabeth S. Roop (14th 2011). For the Record. Ten Elements of a Successful HIE. Retrieved on 9th Dec 2013. Retrieved From HYPERLINK “http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/021411p10.shtml” http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/021411p10.shtml

Vest, J. R. (2011). Health information exchange: The determinants of usage and the impact on utilization. S.l.: Proquest, Umi Dissertation.

HealthIT. 2009 November. HIE Benefits. Health Information Exchange (HIE). Retrieved on 9th Dec 2013, Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/health-information-exchange/hie-benefits

Wager, K. A., Lee, F. W., & Glaser, J. P. (2013). Health care information systems: A practical approach for health care management.

Harman, L. B., & American Health Information Management Association. (2006). Ethical challenges in the management of health information. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

Menachemi, N., & Singh, S. K. (2012). Health information technology in the international context. Bingley, U.K: Emerald.