Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority to Conduct Statewide Consumer Survey

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority is conducting a statewide consumer survey to gauge public knowledge about health information exchange (HIE).

The responses from the survey will help the Authority develop outreach and education programs to communicate with healthcare consumers about the value and benefits of health information exchange.  The survey is available on the Authority's website at www.paehealth.com. 

"This survey will gauge awareness of electronic medical records and provide insight into the importance that Pennsylvanians place on sharing those records securely and electronically among their various healthcare providers," Alix Goss, State Health Information Technology Coordinator and Program Director said. "Health information exchange allows patients and providers to have information when and where they need it so they can make the best decisions, which will ultimately improve healthcare outcomes."

Working with Susquehanna Polling and Research and the Pennsylvania Industries for the Blind and Handicapped PIBH, the Authority will also survey 1,500 Pennsylvania residents by phone.  There are no questions about personal health information or medical history in the survey.

The PA eHealth Partnership Authority is an independent state agency that is working to meet federal requirements for HIE in Pennsylvania. HIE is the electronic movement of health–related information among unaffiliated organizations according to nationally recognized standards. Pennsylvania was awarded $17.1 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help establish a health information exchange.

For more information, visit the PA eHealth Partnership Authority's website at www.paehealth.com.

Media contact: Dan Egan, 717-772-4237

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of Administration