eHI Launches New Online Toolkit for Health Information Exchange

The Washington, D.C.-based eHealth Initiative launched the third generation of its Health Information Exchange (HIE) Toolkit, an online resource to empower health care leaders managing the challenges associated with developing, adopting, operating, and sustaining a health information exchange.

Phase I of the new eHI Toolkit is now online and available to the public. This “primer” addresses all of the steps for getting an HIE started–including creating a governance model, drafting legal and information sharing agreements, protecting patient privacy and more. Links to sample roadmaps, readiness tools, agreements, are provided. Phase II, which will be published in May, will address creating a sustainable model, technical aspects of connectivity, marketing and promoting adoption of HIEs, enhancing services, and tracking progress. Later in the year, the value of analytics and anticipated new developments in the marketplace – including HIE as part of ACO strategies - will be added.

Content for the Toolkit was developed through a collaborative process with the Connecting Communities Steering Committee, as well as interviews with leaders in the HIE field. Many of the recommended principles and strategies are derived from eHI’s 2010 National Progress Report, which was created through a comprehensive review of progress and areas requiring action in health IT and HIE. Health information organizations across the country were consulted about the topics covered in this toolkit.