MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Health Information Exchange will receive $5,602,318 to help develop a statewide health information exchange network that will allow comprehensive management of medical information and its secure exchange between health care providers and consumers, Sens. Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka announced Friday, Feb. 12.

Broad use of Health Information Technology has the potential to improve health care quality, prevent medical errors, increase the efficiency of care provision and reduce unnecessary health care costs, increase administrative efficiencies, decrease paperwork, expand access to affordable care, and improve population health.

“Health information technology gives health care professionals quick access to all available records and ensures that patients are receiving high quality care that accounts for every aspect of their medical history,” Inouye said.

“These resources will help facilitate the use of health information technology in Hawaii, which can reduce health care costs and errors and improve patients’ quality of life,” Akaka said.

The Hawaii Health Information Exchange (Hawaii HIE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit established in 2006 by leading healthcare stakeholders in Hawaii.

In September 2009, Hawaii HIE was designated by the Hawaii state government to develop and implement a statewide health information exchange that will ultimately feed into the national health information network.

The money for Hawaii was part of $750 million in Health and Human Services grant awards to help states and health care providers advance the adoption and meaningful use of health IT.