Health information exchange between hospitals and other providers has risen by 41% between 2008 and 2012, according to research published in Health Affairs from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
The exchange of health information is integral to the ongoing efforts to transform the nation’s healthcare system, said National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Farzad Mostashari, M.D. in a CMS press release. Mostashari expects more hospitals and other providers adopt and use health IT to improve patient health and care.
The new study found that 58% of hospitals exchanged data with providers outside their organization in 2012. Hospitals’ exchanges with other hospitals outside their organization more than doubled during the study period.
Between 2008 and 2012, there were significant increases in the percentage of hospitals exchanging radiology reports, laboratory results, clinical care summaries, and medication lists with hospitals and providers outside of their organization.
In addition to providing data briefs about the progression toward meaningful use, the ONC also provides a health IT dashboard that allows users to perform the following tasks:
- Generate maps of ONC’s planned obligations by state and program (data does not include sub recipients or contracts servicing ONC grants).
- Learn how ONC’s HITECH programs work together to create momentum in EHR adoption and health information exchange activity.
- Download a full list of ONC HITECH program grantees for your own purpose
