Protecting patient privacy and data quality in a community health information network

The healthcare industry is under mounting pressure to cut costs without reducing the quality and quantity of healthcare services. One method to streamline operations is to implement community health information networks (CHINs). This article describes ways in which CHINs can offer subscribers improved efficiency, decreased costs, and improved patient care. It also addresses the fact that membership in a CHIN, if not controlled, greatly increases legal risks. Details on how many of these risks can be minimized or avoided are provided.