Update on Regional Health Information Exchange in North Texas

It has been a busy summer.  North Texas’ Regional Health Information Exchange, housed in the North Texas Accountable Healthcare Partnership, has finalized its operational plans, sustainability model and is in the last phases of vendor selection for a Health Information Exchange technology firm.  Last Thursday, Sept. 29, three finalist vendors presented to a collection of Chief Information Officers and other Executives from the Healthcare Industry in North Texas.  The demonstrations were well received, and it is anticipated that awards will be made this month.

Regular reports on the activity of the exchange are being submitted quarterly to the grant team with the Department of State Health Services.  Support letters from area physicians and hospitals are keeping pace with the requirements under the grant provisions.  Providers interested in accessing the exchange will have the opportunity to do so in 2012 and beyond.  Testing of exchange will begin before the end of 2011.

 The HIE Committee meets monthly at the headquarters of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council (DFWHC).  Information concerning these meetings and next steps are available from the HIE’s Executive Director, Bryan White, at bwhite@ntahp.org.  The DFWHC Foundation is a supporter and partner of the HIE initiative and President Kristin Jenkins, is happy to answer any questions about the HIE at kjenkins@dfwhcfoundation.org.