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The road from startup to sustainability in health information exchange (HIE) is fraught with difficulties. Despite developing consensus that digital health care data is a good thing, it isn't yet a reality. As a result, the eHealth Initiative (eHI), through many discussions with HIE leaders, the eHI Annual Survey, and a three year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), created the Value and Sustainability ModelSM (VSM) - a model for communities to build viable business plans and achieve sustainability in health information exchange.
Press Release | FAQ's
The VSM includes the a final report, in-depth tools, business plan template and more to help you on the road to HIE startup and sustainability. |
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*Please note that free registration to the Connecting Communities Toolkit is required. | |
Communities across the country are mobilizing information across organizations through multi-stakeholder collaboratives made up of a broad range of constituencies. The Connecting Communities Toolkit supports learning across and among diverse stakeholders including state, regional and community-based organizations. The information in the Toolkit is available free of charge to the general public. (CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND GAIN FREE ACCESS TO THE TOOLKIT.)
The Toolkit is a distillation of the knowledge that the eHealth Initiative has accumulated through its work with multiple stakeholders and different communities. Stakeholders from every sector of healthcare, pioneers who are mobilizing information at the state, regional and community levels, and leading experts have provided significant input into a set of common principles and guides in seven Toolkit modules, each including easily accessible online documents and tools. Now, states, regions or communities can use one or more modules to move forward with confidence and at a more rapid pace.
eHealth Initiative Foundation Releases New Communications Tools Based on Consumer Research on Secure Electronic Health Information Exchange
Today, the eHealth Initiative Foundation (eHI) released research findings and a fully customizable set of new communications tools designed to enhance consumer understanding of the benefits of health IT and health information exchange (HIE). As part of the “InformationSTAT™” program, these public awareness tools can be used by state, regional and community initiatives to educate consumers about the real life-and-death difference secure electronic health information exchange can have. The eHI web-based tools and resources include downloadable public announcements for radio, “print-ready” artwork for advertisements and billboards, case examples, and brochures on the importance of electronic health information exchange. The more than 40 resources made available today also include partnership development guides and customizable brochures and powerpoint presentations which local sponsors can use to reach out to practicing clinicians and employers to engage them in health information exchange efforts across the country. Access to the InformationSTAT™ program materials are available free of charge through the eHI Connecting Communities Toolkit. Click here to view the press release.
How Do I Use the Toolkit?
Each Toolkit module includes an introduction and overview, common principles, sample community experiences, and a set of resources and links specific to the module, all of which are available to the public free of charge. The Toolkit is divided into seven distinct modules. Click on the links below to go directly to a module.
Who Developed the Toolkit?
The Connecting Communities Toolkit was developed through a combination of the deliberations of the eHealth Initiative's working groups and advisory boards, the organization's experience working with several states and over 260 regional and community-based collaboratives focused on health information exchange, eHI's annual survey of state, regional and community-based health information exchange initiatives and organizations, eHI position statements reviewed and vetted within its membership, experience and expertise of eHI staff, and individual interviews performed with leaders in health information exchange. Much of the toolkit work was supported by funds from a cooperative agreement of the Health Resources Services Administration Office of the Advancement of Telehealth.
Who Adds Resources and Tools to the Toolkit?
On a regular basis, eHI working groups and staff refine and continually improve the elements of the Toolkit. Our volunteer chairs and lead staff are outlined in the Leadership section of each module. In addition, eHI accepts toolkit submissions from organizations directly involved in health information exchange. If you have a tool or resource you would like to add to the toolkit contact Rachel Hoeft at Rachel.Hoeft@ehealthinitiative.org .
While there is still no single one-size fits all' approach, common themes and principles are beginning to emerge. The Toolkit is designed to be a living, breathing, constantly improving resource. Through eHI's rapidly growing coalition of over 260 communities and membership representing every stakeholder in healthcare at the national level, we will work to find common ground and provide guidance to those who want to mobilize information to support patient care. (CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CONNECTING COMMUNITIES MEMBERSHIP) We're still in the early stages. As the healthcare system evolves, so will the Toolkit.
The website development and some of the content in the Toolkit have been made possible by grant number 1D1BTM00095-01 and 02, through the Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA Office of the Advancement of Telehealth (HRSA/OAT). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official view of HRSA/OAT.
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