Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of health information exchanges (HIE)?

1. To store data for future use

2. Allow other healthcare providers access to patient medical records

3. To manage health insurance claims

4. To analyze healthcare industry trends

The correct answer is: Allow other healthcare providers access to patient medical records

The primary purpose of health information exchanges (HIE) is to allow different healthcare providers to access and share patient medical records efficiently and securely. This enhances coordination of care among various healthcare providers, ensuring that they have up-to-date and complete information regarding a patient's medical history, treatments, and allergies, regardless of where the patient has received care. By facilitating this exchange of information, HIEs play a crucial role in improving healthcare quality, reducing duplication of services, and ultimately leading to better patient outcomes. While storing data for future use, managing health insurance claims, and analyzing healthcare industry trends are relevant functions within the healthcare ecosystem, they do not capture the central aim of HIEs, which is fundamentally focused on the exchange of health information between authorized users to ensure that patient care is streamlined and informed.