Associations between physician practice models and health information exchange

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Healthcare Management
• Physician Practice Models

Background:

• Health Information Exchange (HIE) use is critical for modern healthcare delivery.
• The relationship between novel physician practice structures and HIE adoption is not well understood.
• Emerging practice models may influence the utilization of digital health tools like HIE.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between emerging physician practice models and HIE utilization.
• To identify barriers to HIE adoption among physicians not currently using the technology.

Main Methods:

• A statewide census of Arizona physicians (2019-2021) provided survey data (n=3312).
• Physician practice models (ACO, CIN, IDN vs. traditional) were primary predictors.
• Outcomes included HIE use for patient summaries and lab results; barriers were assessed for non-users.

Main Results:

• Physicians in ACOs, CINs, and IDNs demonstrated significantly higher odds of using HIE for patient summaries and lab results compared to traditional models.
• Specific associations varied based on provider and practice characteristics.
• Physicians in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) not using HIE cited connectivity and information access issues as key barriers.

Conclusions:

• Emerging physician practice models are linked to increased HIE adoption compared to traditional models.
• Existing gaps in HIE utilization persist, requiring targeted interventions.
• Identified barriers offer insights for enhancing HIE adoption across diverse practice types.