About HII, HIT & HIE

Health Information Infrastructure (HII) is a simplified way to think about the combined resources of Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Health Information Technology (HIT). Although both HIE and HIT work together toward the common goal of better, safer health care, they are distinctly different parts of the solution. The links on this page will lead you to a basic understanding of the technical building blocks involved and where we are today in the evolution of these vital healthcare tools.

What Does It Mean?

Health Information Infrastructure (HII): a less formal umbrella term describing the wider arena of policies, procedures, technologies and industry standards that facilitate secure and accurate online sharing of electronic medical information between providers, payors and ultimately, patients and their guardians via HIE/HIT.

Health Information Exchange (HIE): The electronic movement of health-related data and information among organizations according to agreed standards, protocols and other criteria.

Health Information Technology (HIT) - The application of information processing involving both computer hardware and software that deals with the storage, retrieval, sharing, and use of healthcare information, data, and knowledge for communication and decision making within a single health care provider organization.