Strategic Priorities

The exchange of healthcare records electronically via the Internet, among interoperable computer systems, is viewed by many experts as one of the most promising paths to improving the quality and safety of healthcare services, as well as a means toward moderating the increase of healthcare costs. In early 2004, the federal government announced an initiative to support interoperable electronic systems for e-health, and established a new Office of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator within the United States. The Health-e-LA Coalition started its work before these actions, and is positioned to serve as a planning and coordinating body for health information exchange in the Los Angeles area.

As Greater Los Angeles is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States and is home to over 2 million unisured and underinsured, Health-e-LA is giving, and will continue to give, particular attention to the needs of public and private health care providers and others who serve low-income, vulnerable populations.

The strategic priorities of Health-e-LA are:

To create an educational venue and resource for community wide discussion on health information exchange.
To research structural and technical topics relating to multi-organizational electronic exchange of healthcare information, and to monitor and evaluate similar activities taking place in other regions of the country.
To continue to expand support for coordinated e-health activities throughout the greater Los Angeles region, especially in support of public and private safety net providers.
To develop the principles and governance for the design and construction of a regional electronic “superhighway” for healthcare information (including collaborative pilot projects toward building the “system”).
To implement the “superhighway” within a few years, thereby enabling the electronic exchange of patient-controlled, longitudinal health records for residents of the greater Los Angeles area.