A snapshot of Health Information Exchange, a program of the Georgia Department of Community Health [Dec. 2007]

A Program Of The Georgia Department Of Community Health
A SNAPSHOT OF
Health Information Exchange

Overview
President George W. Bush launched an initiative in 2004 to reform health care through the improved adoption of health information technology and empowerment of consumers through information. In support of President Bush's initiative, Governor Sonny Perdue issued two Executive Orders relating to Health Information Technology and Transparency (HITT):
1. Signed in October 2006, the first created the HITT Advisory Board to facilitate and encourage the use of electronic health records and to establish a statewide health information exchange strategy and to promote marketplace transparency
2. The second, signed in February 2007, encouraged marketplace transparency by providing cost and quality data to consumers, and application of industry best practices that facilitate the use of electronic health records
The Board members, which are representative of various providers and businesses, will advise the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) in applying industry best practices for facilitating and encouraging the use of electronic health records and establishing a statewide strategy that will enable health information to be available across the full continuum of care.
The Vision
Health information technology promises to help transform health care in Georgia by lowering costs, reducing medical errors and improving quality of care. Georgia providers will have access to the clinical information they need to make informed decisions about patient care when and where they need it. Georgia citizens will have access to the information they need to make decisions about their own care based on cost and quality.
The Process
The HITT Advisory Board is working to develop a strategy to enable health information technology to be available across the full continuum of care. The strategy encompasses encouraging the development of interoperable and secure health information across different provider and payer groups.
The HITT Advisory Board and DCH worked together to develop evaluation criteria used to determine pilots eligible for funding through the Georgia Health Information Exchange (HIE) Pilot Program. Providers, payers or local health communities may submit pilot proposals. Potential pilots would include the use of:
n Electronic health records to improve the safety and quality of health care and reduce the costs
n e-prescribing to reduce medication errors and the cost of medication by helping to ensure formularies are used as prescribing decisions are made
n Health information exchange to provide clinical information when and where it is needed for health care decisions
For more information about the Georgia Health Information Exchange Pilot Program, visit www.dch.georgia.gov.

2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga 30303 w www.dch.georgia.gov

December 2007