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Docs want health information exchange, but most lack funds

01.23.2012

Health information exchanges promise to change the way care is delivered in the U.S. By giving doctors access to a patient's entire medical history, these networks will enable physicians to deliver higher quality care while avoiding the expenses associated with duplicative procedures.

However, even as excitement about HIEs grows, relatively few healthcare organizations have set aside the resources necessary for participating in a network, according to the findings of a recent survey conducted by Beacon Partners.

The group surveyed more than 200 healthcare executives from organizations across the country. The results showed that nearly 70 percent were interested in participating in an HIE. Many cited improvements in care quality by enabling them to provide more coordinated services, improve patient access to data and ensure that the efforts of various staff teams are aligned.

Despite the strong interest in HIE, many providers are a long way from being able to join a network. About half of the respondents reported that they had not set up a team to handle the project. Furthermore, 38 percent said they had insufficient room in the budget and 21 percent said that they had zero budget space available.

"HIEs are top of mind for many healthcare organizations, and this study demonstrates their concerns and overall opinions," said Kevin Burchill, director of Beacon Partners. "We've seen and heard first hand that healthcare executives know the importance and benefits of an HIE, but this study confirms their concerns over the lack of a budget."

HIEs allow physicians to access patients' data from anywhere within the network. Many experts believe that this accessibility of information will help lower costs and improve treatment outcomes.

Categories: Patient Satisfaction