Assessing the impact of community health information networks: a multisite field study of the Wisconsin Health Information Network.

Community health information networks (CHINs) have emerged as a promising new technology to generate cost reductions and support change in the health care industry. The proliferation of CHINs has been thwarted, however, by a conspicuous lack of evidence to support the claims of enhanced efficiency and effectiveness from CHIN participation. A recent study of the Wisconsin Health Information Network, the nation's first fully functioning CHIN, documents the benefits of this emerging technology. The findings reveal the potential for significant cost savings via electronic transmission of patient clinical and administrative information as well as enhancement of the quality of patient care.