What is health information exchange (HIE)?

Health Information Exchange (HIE) refers to the secure sharing of patient health information across different healthcare systems and organizations. The primary goal of HIE is to facilitate the access and retrieval of clinical data to improve the quality of care, reduce errors, and enhance efficiency in the healthcare delivery process. This exchange is achieved while upholding stringent standards for privacy and security to protect sensitive patient information.

The significance of ensuring privacy and security cannot be overstated, as it safeguards patients' confidential health data from unauthorized access and potential breaches. With HIE, healthcare providers can access a patient’s complete health history, enabling better-informed clinical decisions and care coordination.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of HIE. Direct marketing of health services pertains to promotional activities rather than the safe exchange of health data. Surveying public health needs involves assessing community health requirements, which is distinct from the transmission of patient health records. Implementing new healthcare policies relates to regulatory changes or guidelines rather than the actual movement of health data between providers. Thus, the focus on sharing health information with appropriate measures for privacy and security makes this choice the correct interpretation of Health Information Exchange.