Appendix E. Summary of Literature on Health Information Exchange Outcomes and Related Measures

Studies on the impact of electronic health information exchange (HIE) on health care and other outcomes can provide evidence-based measures of HIE impact. Hincapie et al. conducted a systematic review of literature to identify and describe evidence of HIE impact on health care outcomes. Of 207 abstracts retrieved, only five articles met the inclusion criteria (e.g., original investigations in English that focused on HIE outcomes, definition of HIE). None of these five studies included long-term and post-acute care/long-term services and supports settings. Of these, three were randomized controlled trials, one involved retrospective review of data, and one was a prospective study. Hincapie found that HIE benefits on health care outcomes are still sparsely evaluated, and that among the measurements used to evaluate HIE, health care utilization is the most widely used.