“Implementation and effective use of health information exchanges (HIEs)—systems that electronically share clinical and administrative data between settings of care—has the
potential to transform health care and improve patient out-comes. Financial investments in HIE infrastructure and the achievement of a critical mass of hospitals and health systems
participating in information sharing have mitigated key structural barriers to HIE use, while technological innovations, including the incorporation of HIE into electronic health records (EHRs), have improved integration of HIEs into many clinicians’ workflows. However, real-world use of HIE is lagging: it is estimated that HIEs are accessed in less than 20% of
clinical encounters and in only 50% of referrals—despite being a part of required reporting for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Promoting Interoperability incentive
program. Health information exchange use varies widely across settings of care: as few as 3.7% of outpatient visits and 17.6% of inpatient admissions recorded HIE use in one study.”