What is The HIE?
Health Current is the health information exchange (HIE) that helps partners transform care by bringing together communities and information across Arizona. The HIE provides secure access to patient health information as well as the secure exchange of patient health information between the HIE and its participating organizations and providers. The HIE is Arizona’s largest and only statewide health information organization (HIO) and its participants include hospitals, physicians, health plans, references labs and other healthcare organizations and providers.
Is the HIE a part of State or Federal Government?
No. Neither the HIE or Health Current are a part of state or federal government. Health Current, formerly Arizona Health-e Connection is an independent non-profit community organization.
What does the HIE do?
The HIE provides the organizational and technical infrastructure to allow authorized healthcare providers to securely share patient health information in order to better coordinate patient care. When a provider has access to all of a patient’s medical information, the care team can make better decisions about a patient’s healthcare, especially in an emergency.
Can I “opt out” of having my health information available through the HIE?
Yes, anyone can “opt out” and not have any health information available from the HIE. When a provider begins to participate in the HIE, that provider must have in place a notification process about patient rights under Arizona law. The provider must provide a Notice of Health Information Practices which describes how patients can “opt out,” which is done by the patient simply completing an Opt Out Change Form.
Can I change my mind and decide to “opt out” later or decide to opt back in?
Any patient may change his or her mind at any time. This is done by a patient going to his/her healthcare provider that provided the Notification of Health Information Practices and completing an Opt Out Change Form or Opt Back In Change Form indicating a decision to “opt out” or opt back in.