About HealthInfoNet
HealthInfoNet is an independent, nonprofit organization advancing the meaningful use of health information technology to improve patient care quality and safety.
HealthInfoNet’s core function is the management of a secure electronic network, called a health information exchange, where health care providers can share important medical information on their patients. Using the network, providers share information like drug allergies, prescriptions, medical conditions, and lab and test results. In an emergency, this helps providers quickly and more accurately diagnose and treat patients. In non-emergency situations it can decrease ordering of repeat tests and give providers a more complete picture of their patients’ care. Maine’s largest health care systems, along with a statewide primary care group practice and an independent rural hospital, tested the network over a two-year period and it is now being made available to doctors and hospitals throughout the state. Future goals also include providing a secure online portal where patients can access their medical information from any location, at any time.
HealthInfoNet is also the recipient of a federal grant designating it as one of the many Regional Extension Centers (REC) created across the country. Funded as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the purpose of a REC is to provide education and technical assistance to help health care providers select, implement, and achieve meaningful use of certified EHR technology. One of the meaningful use requirements is the ability to exchange health information across provider organizations, something already enabled through HealthInfoNet’s health information exchange network. Learn more about the REC.
HealthInfoNet incorporated in 2006 and is governed by a board of directors and several committees run by Maine people serving on behalf of doctors, hospitals, public health, patients, and groups representing various consumer interests. The organization provides services across the State of Maine, and maintains administrative offices in Portland.
History
HealthInfoNet began as a project called the Maine Health Information Network Technology or MHINT in 2004.
It was that year that four groups, including the Maine Health Access Foundation, Maine CDC, the Maine Quality Forum and the Maine Health Information Center,
came together to study whether or not Maine was ready to develop a statewide electronic health information exchange or HIE.
The study found that strong support existed for such a system.
By 2005, the MHINT project organized a process for bringing together a larger group of
stakeholders to explore what it would take to create an HIE in Maine. An extensive planning and development process then began.
This process resulted in the establishment of HealthInfoNet as a new, independent nonprofit organization in early 2006.
In 2008, stakeholders representing a wide range of interests took part in a seven-month process aimed at accelerating the adoption of electronic medical records and identifying ways to provide HealthInfoNet with long term sustainability. They issued a final report December, 2008.
Today, HealthInfoNet has completed a two-year demonstration project and is working to expand the network statewide.