Getting a Better Position on HIE
Health information exchange, or HIE, generally falls under three models: centralized, federated/decentralized, and a hybrid of all of them. Let’s take a look at what typifies each setup.
Centralized Model
The centralized model involves a single common data pool that includes payer, public and provider health data. This is a popular model because it’s simple yet effective in taking information in from multiple sources. Furthermore, a centralized model often includes a consolidated data center that has top-notch security and business continuity measures factored in.
Community-level data analytics are effectively handled with this model because all the information is in one place. The downside is that there are various limitations with the architecture of this setup. For example, this model is excellent at gathering data, but not so effective at pushing it out to where it needs to go.
Federated/Decentralized Model
You won’t find much similar to the centralized model here, especially in regard to the single repository that stores all health data. Instead, the federated/decentralized model allows data to stay at its source, which means the provider has total control over their data, which includes patient information and medical images. However, in order to participate in this type of HIE, you must agree to allow other organizations access to data whenever they need it. Depending on how you look at it, this can be a good thing and a bad thing.
The positive side of this is that there are fewer problems occurring where privacy and security are concerned. Furthermore, there is no question regarding ownership of the data. It also ensures that if one healthcare provider has a technical glitch, it’s not going to bring down the entire system.
Hybrid Model
The draw to a hybrid model of HIE is that there is a centralized data repository as well as a record locator service, something many healthcare organizations lack, especially in their PACS. The hybrid model is also adept at helping providers with critical care coordination as well as services for records location. It’s under the hybrid model that the other two models are used to work with each other to track patient movement and track healthcare data.
Another draw to the hybrid model is that it can be used for clinical analytics, medical research and risk stratification. The providers that use this model say they have the flexibility when it comes to enhancing patients’ electronic health records as well as data analytics capabilities for better patient care.
The OffSite Way
OffSite Image Management, Inc. has taken the HIE to another level. We work to offer a 360-degree diagnostic image solution with our HIE360 solution as our exchange platform. We know that flexibility is important, which is why our HIE360 data exchange solution is a stand-alone exchange platform that gives clients the option to integrate with other PACS or cloud management solutions. Contact us today and let’s discuss how we can move you into a more productive HIE solution.