The seamless exchange of healthcare information, facilitated by Health Information Exchange (HIE), is pivotal for enhancing patient care, improving outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs. Dr. Lu Xiong with MTSU's Department of Mathematical Sciences, will introduce the intricate landscape of data interoperability within healthcare IT, clearly explaining the complex challenges—from standardization to privacy concerns—that hinder the smooth exchange of data. Explore the relationship between HIE and Electronic Health Records (EHR), look at the basic structures that support HIE, and discuss the roles of essential protocols such as HL7 and FHIR. Additionally, we will consider the operationalization of HIE in various contexts, including its integration with healthcare insurance, funding resources, and ethical considerations surrounding data privacy. An in-depth look at the infrastructure components of HIE and insights into HIE development using C# and Python will provide attendees with practical knowledge. The talk will end with an invitation to engage with the local HIE community, fostering a collaborative environment for future innovation.

View the video here.