HIE is far more than technology.  MobileMD recognizes that to work HIE must operate in four dimensions: Technology, Service, Care, and Economics.  MobileMD offers the industry's only 4D HIE^TM.

Without technological innovation, HIE would never move past fax, courier, and a myriad unsupportable point-to-point interfaces.  The Technology dimension offers a broad set of proven capabilities which are important to ensure relevance, usability, security, scalability, and regulatory compliance.  Without sound Technology, utilization is muted, stability is jeopardized and liability is increased.  The Technology dimension is significant to ensure a working system is in place, built on a solid, scalable foundation, protecting all stakeholders from the risks inherent in communicating patient health information – legal and clinical.

To truly operate within the Service dimension, HIE must wrap Service around deployed technology. Community outreach support and strategic utilization consulting are vital components. The Service dimension represents the extent to which and sophistication with which HIE permeates a community.  Without adequate services, HIE languishes, left unused, neither deriving nor generating benefit.

The Care dimension is lost on most vendors, as it requires a true understanding of, appreciation for, and empathy with the criticality of the ultimate mission – providing quality patient care.  The Care dimension introduces the human element to HIE.  Every patient, every piece of information, every clinician, and every episode of care is critical in its own right and must be treated with a keen sense of urgency and worth.  HIE can’t do this without a human element that expresses understanding, appreciation, and empathy.

The Economic dimension is critical, because an economic model based on self-interest’s “invisible hand” is important to ensure sustainability.   Without competitive market pressures, HIE falters with inadequate funding, structure, and incentives.  While altruistic cooperative purpose is noble and achievable, economic activity is predicated on the notion that such altruism is achieved through self-interest. Community good is realized when individuals (e.g., healthcare organizations) achieve what is good for themselves.  Competition, precedes cooperation.  As the market matures, cooperation inevitably evolves. Consumers lean heavily against healthcare’s regional nature, forcing providers to cooperate to ensure quality care.