INDIANAPOLIS – As the federal economic stimulus package moves to fund leading applications of health information technology, Indiana has launched an initiative to call attention to its leadership on the healthcare IT front.

The state boasts one of the strongest health IT sectors in the United States, with five operating health information exchanges (HIEs), HIT-adopting hospitals and physicians, innovative entrepreneurial organizations and a long history of groundbreaking HIT research through the Regenstrief Institute at Indiana University, say organizers of the campaign.

To promote the state's assets and national leadership in healthcare IT, BioCrossroads is spearheading EXIBHIT Indiana (Expanding Indiana's Breakthroughs in Health Information Technology), an initiative focused on advancing the development and effective use of healthcare IT in Indiana and across the country.

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

As a collaboration among Indiana's state and local organizations, research institutions, healthcare providers and health information exchanges and related enterprises, EXIBHIT Indiana seeks to leverage the state's depth and breadth of healthcare IT to provide better healthcare at home and serve as a national model for national standards, products, devices and exchanges.

Among the nation's largest and longest-running HIEs, Indiana's five health information exchanges have impressive statistics, state officials say. They include:

• 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 healthcare throughout Indiana by using better information to deliver better patient care," said J. Marc Overhage, MD, 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."

Acting earlier this year through the adoption of ARRA, Congress determined that hospitals, doctors and patients across the United States should be able to share in the benefits from "meaningful use" of electronic health information by 2014.

"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.