When it finishes its next transition, the Delaware Health Information Network plans to be that rarest of creatures--a health information exchange that has a long-term, sustainable model in place. And given its usage levels, which are strikingly high, it may just be one of the few HIEs that has a chance of building one.

DHIN has been live since March 2007, and is one of a scant few of the nation's HIEs that has participated in trials of the federal National Health Information Network. Its usage statistics are impressive: More than half of the state's doctors use the network, more than 85 percent of lab transactions flow through the system, and 80 percent of hospitalizations are reported through the system. What's more, surveys suggest that 84 percent of participants in the network think it will improve patient care.

Because of its work with NHIN, the group has received federal funding, on top of state dollars. While the state funding requires dollar-for-dollar private sector matches, DHIN seems to have succeeded in getting them. Furthermore, it also has grants from local health plans. What's more, it collects fees from members, who pay based on their transaction volume.

The question at hand now is whether it will continue to keep its public-private governance model in place, and what that will mean financially. We at FierceHealthIT wish DHIN luck in making this transition. Clearly, based on other examples nationally, building a long-term sustainable model will be a tricky process.

To learn more about DHIN's plans:
- read this Healthcare IT News piece

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