Efficient health information exchange could significantly lower costs

Editor's Note

Including a health information exchange query into emergency department patient care could significantly reduce the number of tests ordered and reduce costs, finds this study.

Efficient health information exchange was associated with a 52% reduction in lab tests and a 36% reduction in radiology exams per patient ordered in the ED.

Lucila Ohno-Machado, MD, PhD Impact factor3.504 5 Year impact factor 3.866 Published on behalf of An Empirical analysis of the financial benefits of health information exchange in emergency departments Objective To examine the impact of health information exchange (HIE) on reducing laboratory tests and radiology examinations performed in an emergency department (ED).