HIMSS, MGMA Unwrap HIE Toolkit

To help physician practices navigate health information exchange, HIMSS and the Medical Group Management Association and its standards-setting body, the American College of Medical Practice Executives, have introduced the Ambulatory Health Information Exchange Toolkit for physician practices.

In delivering the proposed rule for meaningful use Stage 2 this past week, ONC chief Farzad Mostashari said Stage 2 emphasizes interoperability and health information exchange.

“Physician practices are increasingly employing health information technology to more effectively and efficiently deliver care to their patients,” said Susan Turney, MD, president and CEO of MGMA. "For these ambulatory practices, one important tool in an expanding health IT arsenal is the HIE. Practices can now use this toolkit to leverage the opportunities offered by HIEs to add to the critical health information stream flowing securely from one clinical setting to another.”...