Accenture Helps Texas Health Services Authority Set Up HIE

Accenture has announced that it has assessed and completed a plan to support the implementation and interoperability standards for a state-wide health information exchange (HIE) for the Texas Health Services Authority (THSA), according to a company press release.

An HIE is an organization that permits the transmission of healthcare-related data among facilities, health information organizations and government agencies according to national standards, and is an integral component of the health information technology infrastructure under development in the United States and the associated National Health Information Network, according to searchhealthit.techtarget.com.

Accenture helped to ensure that THSA’s HIE met the technology standards, architecture, and strategy to comply with state and federal requirements, according to the press release. The strategy was designed to support interoperable health information management and exchange among unaffiliated organizations. The company said in the press release that it also “developed an enterprise architecture blueprint (EAB) for state-level HIE services and a plan to manage the EAB lifecycle to help ensure compatibility as standards evolve”.

“Accenture is proud to partner with the Texas Health Services Authority to help realize the statewide Health Information Exchange vision for Texas,” said Rick Ratliff, global connected health managing director, Accenture Health, in the press release. “This initiative is a significant step toward improving healthcare quality and enabling an insight driven health system.”

Accenture also produced a reference guide for healthcare IT implementation, including a specification document for local and regional HIEs. Additional information on Texas’ HIE Interoperability Guidance is available from the Texas Health Services Authority.

THSA coordinates the implementation of HIE strategic and operational plans for the State of Texas, according to the organization’s web page.

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