About the Wisconsin Health Information Exchange

WHIE operates within the National Institute of Medical Informatics (NIMI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to research and development of advanced healthcare information networking. The mission of WHIE is to provide a system where diverse stakeholders collaborate to securely exchange confidential health information between authorized users. We envision a world where authorized health professionals and patients access information securely, when and where it is needed, to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of health care and public health. The core of this model is structured around continuity of care conce pts, placing the patient at the center of care.

WHIE is a collaborative organization overseen by a broad based Board of Advisors and staff of three. WHIE invites interested organizations and individuals to become members of WHIE. Members include hospitals, outpatient clinical practices, skilled nursing facilities, healthcare professional groups, laboratories, imaging centers, pharmacies, private health plans, ERISA plans, government plans, public health agencies, researchers or other data users, patient advocate organizations, professional associations, and corporate or philanthropic organizations. Members of WHIE are eligible to run for election to the Advisory Board.

WHIE has been funded by Wisconsin Department of Health Services, through a Medicaid Transformation Grant, together with contributions from the participating health systems in Milwaukee County and payers, including Humana and the Business Health Care Group. WHIE operates on the Microsoft Amalga platform and was the first HIE operating on this platform.

Since our early planning sessions in 2004, WHIE has sought to influence healthcare delivery. Today health care providers are beginning to see change initiated by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Providers are assessing the impact of incentives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to adopt electronic prescribing systems. With broad implementation, the secure exchange of health information using National Health Information Network standards, services and policies, will lead to regional and interstate connectivity and help improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare for all Americans.

On the state level health information exchange planning is initiated under the Wisconsin Relay of Electronic Data (WIRED) for Health project, funded through the Office National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).