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Why California needs better data exchange: challenges, impacts, and policy options for a 21st century health system
Why California needs better data exchange: challenges, impacts, and policy options for a 21st century health system
The efficient, effective, and equitable delivery of care is vital to the well-being of all Californians and is necessary for a strong and vibrant economy. To achieve this state, information must easily be exchanged among medical, behavioral, social services, and public health professionals to allow them to make informed decisions that impact the lives of every resident. Today, access to this kind of critical information is limited, with the exchange of health data confined to a subset of clinical patient information shared mostly among larger clinics and hospitals that have federally certified electronic health record (EHR) technologies. The health information exchange (HIE) ecosystem across California is composed of a combination of direct exchange between providers, the use of national networks, and over 15 regional health information organizations (HIOs). This fragmented model delivers inconsistent and incomplete solutions that don’t provide all of the critical information needed to care for the state’s residents, don’t provide access to all the service providers who need data, and don’t scale to provide state health care leaders with the access to data they need. Coupled with restrictive, confusing, and ambiguous data exchange rules, the exchange environment does not and cannot adequately enable initiatives to improve care quality; enhance access to medical, social, and public health services; reduce disparities; and lower costs for residents, counties, and the state. For an overview of California’s HIE ecosystem and context on the different types of HIE, please see the recent CHCF publication Health Information Exchange in California: Overview of Network Types and Characteristics.
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