Key Elements: Engaging Consumers

Engaging Consumers Case Examples

In 2007, the eHealth Initiative (eHI) presented its first annual Improving Healthcare Quality through Information and Information Technology Awards honoring eight organizations for demonstrating leadership and excellence in utilizing health information technology or health information exchange to drive improvements in the quality, safety and efficiency of healthcare.

The awardees exemplify the principles and strategies identified in eHI's Blueprint: Building Consensus for Common Action. These organizations are models for how the use of health IT and health information exchange can support improvements in the quality, safety and efficiency of health care. The organizations listed below represent practices in the Engaging Consumers section of the Blueprint.

CareEntrust - Award Winner

The CareEntrust team is driving system, policy and process leadership through leading by example. A number of the eHI Blueprint principles from the consumer, privacy and transforming care groups are embodied into the services provided in production. CareEntrust is one of the few organizations that provides both a consumer and provider view into one common dataset that is primarily populated through health information exchange. CareEntrust actively engage consumers in their healthcare through direct involvement in managing their confidential longitudinal, cross-care setting health record. CareEntrust is fully operational and sustained by an employer sponsored business model, supported by over 24 employer groups.

Healthwise - Honorable Mentions

Healthwise engages consumers over 100 million times per year with its consumer health information. Most of that engagement is through Web sites and other HIT systems. Healthwise has championed the concept of "information therapy" (Ix) which calls for information prescriptions to be sent through HIT systems to every patient at every "moment in care." Such Ix prescriptions will make patient-centered care a reality and result in the significant benefits of cost reduction, quality improvement, and reduced strains on the workforce crisis.