The 3 Key Forms of Health Information Exchange
There are currently three key forms of health information exchange (HIE):
- Directed Exchange: Directed exchange gives health care providers the ability to electronically send and receive secure information – such as such as laboratory orders and results, patient referrals, or discharge summaries – to other health care providers involved in a patient’s care over the Internet via encrypted, secure, and reliable messaging.
- Query-Based Exchange: Query-based exchange gives health care providers the ability to find and/or request information on a patient from other providers and is often used for unplanned/emergency care.
- Consumer Mediated Exchange: Consumer Mediated Exchange gives patients the ability to aggregate and manage their health information on the Internet. When in control of their own health information, patients can help transfer information between providers, correct inaccurate demographic, medical, or billing information, and track and monitor their own health.
Health Information Exchange Case Studies
To learn about providers and other stakeholders who are implementing HIE and using HIE to improve health care quality and patient outcomes, see the following HIE case studies.
- Care Coordination Improved through Health Information Exchange
- MedAllies and the Direct Project Support Secure Exchange of Clinical Information in EHR Systems
- Successful Electronic Information Exchange through Direct Pilot Implementation with Cerner and the Lewis and Clark Information Exchange (LACIE)
- Vendors and Communities Working Together: A Catalyst for Interoperability and Exchange
For More Information
For more information on HIE, see the following resources.