Improving Healthcare Quality, Safety, and Access to Care Using Health Information Exchange

Interoperable health information exchange allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, other health care providers, and patients to electronically access and share medical information across different organizations and systems—for example between emergency departments and physician offices or between public health departments and health systems.  This connectivity supports population health, care coordination, and enhances patient safety.  The AHRQ Digital Healthcare Research Program (DHR) has a longstanding commitment to developing and evaluating interoperable healthcare technology.  Below are examples of AHRQ-funded research showcasing how health information exchange is enhancing public health and patient care.

Advancing Public Health with Interoperable Data Exchange

Facilitating data exchange between public health and clinical care information systems leads to efficiencies in vaccination data access and staff effort, resulting in cost savings, improved data informed decision making, and better surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases.  Read the Story.

Safer Inter-Hospital Transfers by Improving Access to Health Information

An enhanced health information exchange platform that improves workflow, interoperability, and visualization of data for inter-hospital transfers may reduce the morbidity and mortality seen today during inter-hospital transfers.  Read the Story.

To access our full portfolio of research focused on interoperable health information exchange, visit AHRQ Funded Projects.