Recent announcements in Illinois have touted the formation and development of Health Information Exchanges (HIE) within different regions of the state. 

Metropolitan Chicago HIE announced that they are moving forward and will soon be the largest HIE in the nation, serving more than 9 million health consumers in and around the Chicago area. 

Central Illinois HIE is set to be operational by the end of 2011. Such announcements often herald the coming HIE as a new pinnacle in healthcare. But as with technological developments in any field, the consumer may be left to wonder: “What does it mean for me?” 

HIE does what its name implies: exchange health information. The primary function of the HIE is to get your medical health history into the hands of the healthcare professional in real time through computerized medical records.

With HIE, your physician is now more informed than ever in making medical decisions that impact your health and wellness. Medical tests are much less likely to be unnecessarily duplicated and return visits to the doctor are reduced.  Gone are the days of scheduling an office visit to view test results, only to find that the results have not yet been delivered and a new appointment will be needed. Even when traveling, your medical record can be accessed remotely.  The technology is especially helpful for patients who see multiple physicians. Patients are no longer responsible for knowing their entire health and treatment history.

Imagine how this impacts emergency care, especially in the case of an unresponsive patient.  With only a small amount of information, the treating professionals can access the patients’ medical record, aiding in both diagnosis and treatment.  Providers can glean important information such as drug allergies or chronic conditions without depending on the patient or family members who may not be able to provide such information. HIE can often mean the difference between life and death. 

What does HIE mean for you, the healthcare consumer? What it really means is better care.