Upon completion of an environmental scan, the next step for an HIE to get started is a Needs Assessment. This assessment will tell the HIE stakeholders about the level of capacity to achieve the identified goals for the HIE. The assessment also will be useful in informing the strategies designed to achieve the goals and will facilitate the HIEs subsequent measurement of progress toward the goals.

Useful Tools for HIE Needs Assessment:

CDC National Health Care Survey

CMS Oscar Database, to generate state-specific lists of all labs and their contact information

American Hospital Association

Gartner Healthcare Provider Research (membership required)

Surescripts (e-prescribing statistics)

Dartmouth Atlas of Healthcare

Sample Questions to Facilitate the Needs Assessment:

• What is the gap between the baseline status (current capacity of HIE in the community) and target status (the status of HIE assumed upon the successful achievement of the mission and goals of the HIE)
• What additional parties are necessary to engage in the HIE to ensure the transition from the baseline to the target status occurs, and what is their capacity to support advancement of the HIE goals
• Do challenges exist for particular providers, labs, hospitals across the community or within certain areas in the community
• What is the additional infrastructure required to address the gap between the baseline status and the target status
• Are changes in policies or regulations required to address the identified gaps