Hoag-enabled Health Information Exchange


For nearly 60 years, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has served as the premier regional health care delivery network in Orange County, California. Hoag offers a comprehensive mix of health care services including Centers of Excellence in cancer, heart and vascular, neurosciences and women’s health, and orthopedics. For well over a decade, Hoag has been in the top five percent of hospitals nationwide for providing quality care and seeks to be a leader in supporting the meaningful use of health information technology in Orange County. Hoag has enjoyed National Research Corporation endorsement as well as endorsement of the residents of Orange County who have chosen Hoag as the county’s best hospital. The Hoag Health Information Exchange (HIE) was formed in 2009 to facilitate safe, timely, and effective patient-centered care, whether the practice uses an EMR or relies on fax machines and paper records.

In a consulting role since 2009, AIM has been engaged to deliver strategic business services for the development and operation of the Hoag-enabled HIE. AIM’s Gina Bianco (Perez) has worked directly with Hoag to develop a provider oversight committee comprised of hospital-based and community physicians as well as a consumer advocate. AIM defined a charter for the committee, developed long-term meeting goals and objectives, helped to set agendas, prepared and presented materials and supported the committee’s decision-making through information sharing on industry actions, trends and innovations.

Additionally, AIM was responsible for working with various hospital departments to define language to amend the Notice of Privacy Practices to support HIE activities; develop consumer and provider marketing, education and enrollment materials; develop materials to support provider HIE use and communication with their patients; define the framework for a super user program; and develop a policy and procedure infrastructure to support the unique workings of the HIE.

These policies and procedures included:


  • Data Participation Agreement
  • User License Agreement
  • Fax Sunset Policy (for results distribution)
  • Privacy Policy
  • Procedures and forms for patients to consent to exchange and opt-out of HIE
  • Procedures for system monitoring, auditing and breach notification

AIM also has provided guidance to Hoag with regard to solving implementation issues, researching market-related questions, and entering into data exchange agreements with reference laboratories. AIM continues to support Hoag on an as-needed basis to support projects and address issues as they arise.

For more information, visit Hoag’s website by clicking here.