UNLABELLED: Over one hundred Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) are under development in the United States. Many of these will fail but many will become a vital part of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN). METHODS: Documentation was reviewed and summarized and a core group of Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL, Inc.) were interviewed to ascertained lessons learned in the development of Vermont's RHIO. RESULTS: Issues were grouped into five major categories: early planning, organization, education and marketing, technology, and financial sustainability. CONCLUSION: There are a number of commonalities about all RHIOs but also a number of differences predicated on location. RHIOs must remain dynamic and learn from others in order to survive.
UNLABELLED: Over one hundred Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) are under development in the United States. Many of these will fail but many will become a vital part of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN). METHODS: Documentation was reviewed and summarized and a core group of Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL, Inc.) were interviewed to ascertained lessons learned in the development of Vermont's RHIO. RESULTS: Issues were grouped into five major categories: early planning, organization, education and marketing, technology, and financial sustainability. CONCLUSION: There are a number of commonalities about all RHIOs but also a number of differences predicated on location. RHIOs must remain dynamic and learn from others in order to survive.