Health Information Partnership for Tennessee

The Health Information Partnership for Tennessee (HIP TN) is a not-for-profit organization established to enhance electronic health information exchange across Tennessee. It was incorporated in 2009 as a public-private partnership, bringing together local, regional, and state electronic health initiatives to improve access to health information[1][2].

Objective and Structure

HIP TN's primary objective is to advance the secure exchange of health information between healthcare providers to ensure well-coordinated patient care. It focuses on improving quality, coordination of care, cost efficiency, and public health outcomes[2]. The partnership was especially designed to align Tennessee's electronic health information resources effectively, leveraging opportunities provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)[2].

HIP TN is structured to include a broad representation of stakeholders, with the Tennessee Office of e-Health Initiatives supporting its efforts. Key figures, such as Commissioner Dave Goetz and Melissa Hargiss, were involved in its establishment and development[2].

Activities and Strategies

Initially, HIP TN aimed to create a statewide network connecting existing regional health information organizations (RHIOs) like the MidSouth eHealth Alliance and CareSpark. This network-of-networks model was designed to provide enterprise services, including links to immunization registries, electronic lab results, and patient medication histories[1][3]. However, in response to federal deadlines and grant funding limitations, Tennessee shifted its strategy towards simpler solutions, focusing on direct secure email transmission between providers[3].

Operations Wind-down

By June 2012, HIP TN announced plans to wind down its operations. The decision reflected a broader trend among states re-evaluating ambitious health information exchange (HIE) infrastructure goals due to funding constraints[3]. Despite this, Tennessee's efforts continue to support meaningful use requirements through alternative initiatives like Direct[3].