HIE Cuts Excess Radiology Exams In Half

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

The use of a health information exchange dramatically reduced the number of radiology exams ordered by doctors according to a recent study.

In a study of a health information exchange platform among two emergency departments in Western New York, Niam Yaraghi found the benefits of health information exchanges (HIEs) nearly immediately. According to EHR Intelligence, the study found the use of an HIE reduced radiology exams by 47 percent.

Additionally, use of an HIE led to:

• a 25 percent decrease in the number of laboratory tests conducted
• a 26 percent drop in the amount of radiology examinations

In the second hospital studied, radiology exams fell by a total of 47 percent after the HIE was implemented.

The Brookings Institute reports that, “after more than a decade of investment in HIE platforms we are on the verge of realizing returns on investments on health IT. HIE platforms have the potential to leverage the national investments on interoperability and radically improve the efficiency of health care services.”

“HIE platforms have the potential to leverage the national investments on interoperability and radically improve the efficiency of health care services,” concluded Yaraghi’s study. “Moreover, the potential benefits of increased access to HIE platforms calls for more detailed studies on efficient strategies and workflow designs which enable ED clinicians to access HIE in smoother and user friendlier manners.”

Other studies have also found reduced tests and cost savings associated with HIE use. Health IT Outcomes reports that a program at Minnesota-based Allina Health’s emergency department cut redundant testing significantly and also helped to identify 28 cases of drug-seeking behavior in just 6 months.