CHIME StateNet, a collaborative group sponsored by the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), this morning released guiding principles that the collaborative has developed as operating guidelines for regional extension centers (RECs) and health information exchanges (HIEs).

CHIME StateNet is comprised of healthcare CIOs representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia. It was created by CHIME last year to enable the association to communicate in-state healthcare IT developments, including HIE formation and sharing information on best practices within and across states.

The morning after CHIME held its CIO Forum, and on the first day of mainstream sessions at the HIMSS Conference, being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, CHIME has released its guiding principles which, according to Sharon Canner, the organization’s senior director of advocacy, has been presented to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). In a press release this morning, CHIME announced that “StateNet is offering guidance because it believes that consistency across states and regions is essential for effective exchange of health information.”

Among the recommendations in the document for HIEs are the following:

• Adoption of best practice models with common themes across states—patient identification, provider directories, consent management, privacy provisions, data standards and other common services—with standardization where possible to minimize redundant activities and optimize use of public funds;

• Where possible, recognizing defined and exclusive geographic regions for health information exchange at the state level, and in the case of regions that cross state lines, by agreement between States.
• Coordinating regional extension center activities with the approved state HIE plan to ensure that resources are used effectively, guarding against any conflicts as part of the evaluation and sustainability of the plan.
• Establishing public/private campaign to raise awareness of HIEs’ benefits for patients.

The entire document, including full recommendations for HIEs and for RECs, will be provided on CHIME’s website.