Indianapolis, June 24, 2009 – As the federal economic stimulus package moves to fund leading applications of health information technology (HIT), Indiana sits in the pole position. The Hoosier state boasts one of the strongest health IT sectors anywhere in the United States today with five operating health information exchanges (HIE), HIT-adopting hospitals and physicians, innovative entrepreneurial organizations and a long history of groundbreaking HIT research through the Regenstrief Institute at Indiana University.

To promote the state‟s collective assets and national leadership in HIT, BioCrossroads is spearheading Exibhit Indiana (Expanding Indiana‟s Breakthroughs in Health Information Technology), an initiative focused on advancing the development and effective use of HIT within Indiana and across the U.S.

The initiative has launched a new Web site www.exibhitindiana.com that includes descriptions and links to network partner organizations. The Web site is also designed to provide current and helpful information regarding Health IT opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

As a collaboration of Indiana‟s state and local organizations, research institutions, healthcare providers, and health information exchanges and related enterprises, Exibhit Indiana seeks to leverage Indiana‟s unique depth and breadth of HIT to provide better healthcare at home and serve as a national model for national HIT standards, products, devices and exchanges. Among the nation‟s largest and longest-running HIEs, Indiana‟s five health information exchanges have impressive statistics:

  • More than 6.3 million messages are exchanged each month – ranging from patient lab test results to X-rays to medication histories
  • More than 12,000 physicians statewide have access to patient records via the HIE networks
  • More than 12 million patient records are securely housed

“Indiana‟s breakthroughs in HIT are improving the quality and safety and the cost of health care throughout Indiana by using better information to deliver better patient care,” said Dr. J. Marc Overhage, President and CEO of the Indiana Health Information Exchange. “Millions of patients across the state benefit from the innovative services of our networks as well as the healthcare providers who are on the leading edge of patient care by utilizing these technologies.”

Overhage also serves as Director of Medical Informatics at the Regenstrief Institute, Inc. and is Regenstrief Professor of Medical Informatics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. He has also been recently appointed to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Health Information Technology Standards Committee.

Acting earlier this year through the adoption of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), Congress determined that hospitals, doctors and patients across the U.S. should be able to share in the benefits from “meaningful use” of electronic health information by 2014.

“The ARRA offers a series of grants and incentives to further this ambitious goal. As activity accelerates, Indiana really can serve as an „exhibit‟ of the best possibilities for our national HIT future,” said David Johnson, President and CEO of BioCrossroads. “Indiana has an unparalleled strength in health information technology, and we have earned national respect for our efforts.”

Network partners include:

  • Government/Community: BioCrossroads, Indiana Health Informatics Corporation
  • Academic: Regenstrief Institute, Regenstrief Center for Health Care Engineering, Indiana University School of Informatics
  • Enterprises: Indiana Health Information Exchange, Mergetics, Med-Web, Medical Informatics Engineering, Michiana Health Information Network, HealthLINC, HealthBridge

About BioCrossroads
BioCrossroads (www.biocrossroads.com) is Indiana‟s initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the region‟s existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads provides money and support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Health Information Exchange, Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, BioCrossroadsLINX, and Datalys Center), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indiana’s life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indiana’s life sciences industry.