The goal of eHI’s Connecting Communities program is to implement activities on a national, regional, and local basis that will lay the foundation for an interconnected, electronic, standards-based health information infrastructure to support patients, clinicians and those responsible for population health.

Interest in health information exchange is at an all-time high, but stakeholders need support in getting there. eHI plays a critical role in aligning national standards with efforts on the ground--in communities, states, regions across the US.

The eHI Foundation's 2005 Annual Survey of State, Regional and Community-Based Health Information Exchange Initiatives and Organizations found that the number of fully operational health information exchange initiatives has increased from 9 to 25 in just one year. The first-of-its-kind survey of the more than 100 multi-stakeholder efforts representing 48 states and the District of Columbia demonstrates they are rapidly advancing to improve healthcare quality and safety and health care savings while preserving the security of individual healthcare information. Ninety-nine percent of survey respondents cited "provider inefficiencies due to lack of data to support patient care" as a significant or moderate driver for their efforts." Fifty-nine percent of advanced stage respondents reported that their policies regarding privacy go beyond HIPAA requirements. Other findings describe maturation in organization and governance, functions and services offered, and the development and execution of technical infrastructure.

During its Nov. 30 annual meeting, newly-elected eHI President Francois de Brantes, Program Leader, Healthcare Initiatives for General Electric reinforced the importance of eHI's continued guidance and leadership for community and state health information exchange efforts seeking a voice for advocacy, knowledge about best practices, funding or grant opportunities and the kind of hands-on help the Learning Forum offers.
eHI and its Foundation's goal for 2006 is to consolidate its position as the go-to resource for any state or community effort that wants to create a sustainable health information exchange.

eHI's efforts going forward will continue to focus on three key areas: developing tools, deploying resources, and disseminating knowledge at the community, state and regional level to support the rapid growth of standards-based, interoperable health information exchange.