Summary
Objective: Health information exchange (HIE) is the interorganizational sharing of patient information
and is one of many health information technology initiatives expected to transform
the U.S. healthcare system. Two outcomes expected to be improved by HIE are patient-provider
communication and patient satisfaction . This analysis examined the relationship between
the level of HIE engagement and these two factors in a sample of U.S. hospitals.
Methods: Independent variables came from existing secondary sources and the dependent measures
were from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. The
analysis included 3,278 hospitals. Using ordinary least squares regression, implemented
HIE was positively associated with the percentage of patients reporting nurses communicated
well and higher satisfaction. Due to the potential for selection bias, results were
further explored using a propensity score analysis.
Results: Hospitals that had adopted HIE, but not yet implemented saw no benefits. Hospitals’
level of HIE was not associated with the percentage of patients reporting doctors
communicated well. According to propensity score corrected estimates, implemented
HIE was associated with the percentage of patients who reported nurses always communicated
well and who would definitely recommend the hospital.
Conclusion: Few studies have examined the impact of HIE at the organizational level. This examination
provides some evidence that hospitals engaging in HIE are associated with higher patient
satisfaction.
Keywords
Hospitals - data sharing - healthcare quality assessment - propensity score - patient
satisfaction - communication
