CAST Executive Director Majd Alwan

The LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) has launched a Health Information Exchange (HIE) selection tool, a multipart resource that will help care providers understand, plan for, choose and implement the right technology solutions for their needs.

The HIE selection tool includes a white paper, an interactive guide, an online selection tool  and matrix of existing HIEs that chose to contribute information, and three provider case studies. It is available free of charge to both LeadingAge members and nonmembers. CAST worked in partnership with the Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative on this new portfolio.  

“We believe that HIEs can provide significant value to long-term care providers,” said Majd Alwan, Ph.D., senior vice president of technology at LeadingAge, and executive director of CAST. 

But a study published earlier this year in The American Journal of Managed Care found that HIE use remained as low as 46%, even when it was available. One reason why: The specific system wasn’t geared toward skilled nursing needs or left out information that could help them provide better care.

“This new CAST resource aims to be a resource that can help encourage HIE adoption by offering facts and insights about the current HIE landscape,” Alwan said. “That way, providers can make informed decisions when planning for, selecting and engaging with HIE entities and networks.” 

The HIE toolkit is one of eight online technology selection tools created by CAST.  Others include an electronic health record selection tool and telehealth selection tool.