Does Health Information Exchange Reduce Unnecessary Neuroimaging and Improve Quality of Headache Care in the Emergency Department?

Abstract

HIE is associated with decreased diagnostic imaging and increased evidence-based guideline adherence in the emergency evaluation of headache, but was not associated with improvements in overall costs. Controlled trials are needed to test whether specific HIE enhancements to increase HIE use can further reduce potentially unnecessary diagnostic imaging and improve adherence with guidelines while decreasing costs of care.

The potential for community-based health information exchange systems to reduce hospital readmissions

“…However, this study suggests that the community-wide lookup approach offered by many HIE efforts could have clinical and economic value, particularly in the transition from inpatient to outpatient settings. This approach to exchange has already been associated with reductions in utilization in areas of care such as repeat imaging 43,44 and admissions via the ED. 12,13 These findings also suggest an avenue for hospitals and healthcare systems to respond to current changes in US healthcare policy.…”

Clinician perspectives on considering radiation exposure to patients when ordering imaging tests: a qualitative study

“…Attempting to track patients’ radiation exposure from imaging tests over time would be challenging currently, as many patients receive care in multiple settings including clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals. This may been an attainable goal in the future aided by the expansion of electronic medical records,39 the development of personal health records,40 the integration of health information exchanges41 42 and the establishment of a national dose registry 43…”

Notifications of hospital events to outpatient clinicians using health information exchange: a post-implementation survey

“…Previous studies have detected savings from HIE systems implementation, 7,8,16 although others have had mixed results. 9 There have been few studies of the financial impact of HIE-based notifications.…”