Study: Health information exchanges lower care cost, improve safety

A new survey has concluded that health information exchanges being put into place between providers, hospitals, patients and payers may have some significant benefits. The survey, conducted by the eHealth Initiative, found that 69 percent of groups surveyed (29 out of 42) said they were able to cut healthcare costs. Meanwhile, 52 percent said that their participation in the HIE had helped to cut medication errors and improved patient outcomes. In an even more promising sign for the future of such organizations, 69 percent reported a positive financial return on their investment this year, up from just 31 percent last year.

Researchers found that all 42 HIEs were in advanced stages of development, as compared with 32 operational HIEs responding in 2007. Not only were the HIEs more advanced, they also were sharing richer data. A total of 26 operational HIEs said that they were sharing lab results, up from 19 in 2007, and 23 are exchanging outpatient outcomes data, up nearly 10 percent from 21.

To learn more about the survey:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)

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