A non-for-profit Regional Health Information Organisation (RHIO), HIXNY is composed of hospitals, physicians, practices, healthcare associations, health plans, government agencies and patient groups. The member hospitals have a total capacity of over 3000 beds; and member physician networks represent more than 500 physicians. And millions of patients are covered in the area.
A RHIO is defined as “A health information organization that brings together health care stakeholders within a defined geographic area and governs health information exchange [HIE] among them for the purpose of improving health and care in that community.” RHIOs are key to the US National Health Information Network. New York state’s Healthcare Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL NY) programme provided the HIXNY with US$4.6 million funding in 2008, the second time HIXNY received a HEAL NY grant. The platform was expected to be flexible, open and standards-based, some of criteria that the 15 person taskforce representing nine of HIXNY member organisations used during its three month evaluation process.
“In a world of uncertainty with respect to health information exchange and RHIOs, HIXNY wanted a platform that would help us adapt to what is coming down the road and to do so in a standards-based way,” said Dominick Bizzarro, CEO of HIXNY.
In the end HealthShare from InterSystems was chosen, which facilitates exchange of clinical data including medication history, allergies, and visit information. Laboratory data is expected to be included early next year, while imaging reports, progress notes and discharge summaries and other useful information will be added ‘on a continuing basis’, according to the organisation.
Bizzarro said the system would allow HIXNY to provide meaningful health information exchange in a cost-efficient manner.
The same platform has been used by a few information exchange projects, including the regional Long Island Patient Information eXchange (LIPIX) and Brooklyn Health Information Exchange (BHIX).
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jianggan Li
Quelle/Source: futureGov, 24.12.2009
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