Framework Evaluates HIEs

The Center for Health Information and Decision Systems at the University of Maryland has created a framework to assist in developing sustainable health information exchanges.

The CHIDS HIE Evaluation Framework includes a methodology for assessing any HIE on five performance measures: value creation and sustainability of a business model; organizational structure and decision making processes; technology; community engagement; and trust in the system.

Once an HIE is operational, the framework can be used to compare and benchmark performance, says Ritu Agarwal, director of CHIDS and a co-author of the framework.

The center used the framework as it assessed the District of Columbia Regional Health Information Organization. A report of the assessment, in section 4, describes the framework.

--Joseph Goedert