Press Release

AHA Offers New Health IT Resource to America's Hospitals

Contact:
David Allen - 202-626-2313

Washington D.C.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) today released a new resource to assist hospitals implementing health care information technology (IT).  A white paper, entitled “Health Information Exchange Projects:  What Hospitals and Health Systems Need to Know” explores the risks, benefits and lessons learned by hospitals and health systems that have started or are considering initiatives known as health information exchanges (HIE) in their communities.

The paper includes findings from the case studies of three diverse HIE projects and highlights the key role HIEs can play in improving patient care.  Hospital leaders involved in the three projects answered several key questions commonly asked when a hospital is evaluating whether or not to participate in an HIE and how to proceed if they do.

The study was conducted on behalf of the AHA by Manatt Health Solutions.

For a copy of the white paper, please visit the AHA Web site at www.aha.org
or contact David Allen at (202) 626-2313 or email at dallen@aha.org

Editor’s Note:
This report was written by William Bernstein, Melinda Dutton, Lori Evans and Anthony Fiori of Manatt Health Solutions with significant input from Chantal Worzala of the American Hospital Association.

About Manatt Health Solutions

Manatt Health Solutions is a division of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, which provides legal and consulting services to national and international clients from offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto and Sacramento, C.A.; New York and Albany, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C.  Manatt Health Solutions’ interdisciplinary team provides strategic and business advice, policy analysis, project implementation, and coalition building and advocacy services to clients in the areas health care access and coverage, health care financing and reimbursement and health information technology.

About AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which includes more than 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and 38,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.