America's Next Top HIE Model...

There are three different models for health information exchanges, with each varying according to how the patient’s data is stored and accessed by participants. Randy McCleese, FHIMSS, CHCIO, vice president of information systems and CIO at St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead, KY, offers this summary of the three types in use across the country:

•  Because all data exists in a single warehouse, it is very easy and fast to perform queries against it.
• The model facilitates communitywide data analysis for research and public health purposes since the data is available centrally.
• There may be better expertise in managing central resources due to their scale and the class of products used.

• The entire system is dependent on good management and maintenance of the database.
• Timeliness of data can be an issue because slow data submission from participating systems to the central database will result in inaccurate consolidated records.
• Duplication of demographic and clinical records will be a constant concern because the data on any patient will be collected and submitted by multiple providers.
• A larger up-front investment in central resources is required.