GAO Studies E-Health Exchange

MANAGED CARE April 2010. ©MediMedia USA

In a study involving more than 60 health information exchanges, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) found that sharing electronic personal health information about patients between providers and the exchanges improved the quality of care.

Health information exchanges are entities that facilitate the electronic sharing of patients’ health information among providers.

The exchanges reported that they implement widely accepted disclosure practices that safeguard personal information to help ensure the appropriate use of electronic personal health information for treatment.

The GAO report says that the exchanges have not yet conducted formal studies or evaluations of the overall effect of electronically sharing personal health information.