Texas received $28 million from the Office of the National Coordinator to fund health information exchange (HIE) activities in Texas. In basic terms, an HIE is a way to use technology to make patients' health information available anywhere, anytime.
The funds are being disseminated through the Texas Health Services Authority (THSA). To date, the following 17 entities have applied for funds and have been funded:
HIE Applicant
|
Location
|
Anchor Applicant
|
Coalition of Health Services
|
Amarillo
|
Coalition of Health Services
|
First Net
|
Tyler
|
East Texas Medical Center
|
Greater Houston
|
Harris County
|
Collaboration that includes Harris County Medical Society
|
Health Access San Antonio (HASA)
|
Bexar County
|
Existing HIE, HASA is anchor
|
Health Information Network of South Texas
|
Corpus Christi
|
Community collaboration
|
HIE Southeast Texas
|
Southeast Texas/Beaumont
|
Christus Hospital System
|
Integrated Care Collaboration (ICC)
|
Austin/Central Texas
|
Existing HIE, ICC is anchor
|
iHealth Trust
|
Houston
|
iHealth Trust Physicians (IPA)
|
Montgomery County HIE
|
The Woodlands/Conroe
|
Montgomery County Hospital District
|
North Texas Accountable Care Partnership
|
Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton
|
Collaboration of physicians, hospitals, and employers.
|
Northeast Texas HIE
|
Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas
|
Christus Hospital System
|
Paso del Norte HIE
|
El Paso
|
Paso Del Norte Health Foundation
|
North Texas Red River Medical Center
|
Gainesville
|
North Texas Medical Center
|
Rio Grande Valley HIE
|
Rio Grande Valley
|
Lower Rio Grande Regional Advisory Council on Trauma Service
|
Rio One Health Network
|
Rio Grande Valley
|
Doctors Hospital and Renaissance
|
Southeast Texas Health Systems
|
Goliad
|
Southeast Texas Health Systems
|
Galveston County HIE
|
Galveston
|
University of Texas Medical Branch
|
| |
|
|
Some already operational HIEs did not apply for grant funding as some of the requirements would have required significant adjustments to their operational model.
For more information about HIEs and what questions physicians should ask before joining an HIE, read, "The Gift of Sharing" in the February issue of Texas Medicine. In addition, information on HIEs, electronic health records, and regional extension centers is available in the health information technology (HIT) section of the TMA website. Questions may also be directed to TMA's HIT Department by telephone at (800) 880-5720 or by e-mail.
Action, May 2, 2011