Health information exchange use during dental visits

Abstract

Dental and medical providers require similar patient demographic and clinical information for the management of a mutual patient. Despite an overlap in information needs, medical and dental data are created and stored in multiple records and locations. Electronic health information exchange (HIE) bridge gaps in health data spread across various providers. Enabling exchange via query-based HIE may provide critical information at the point of care during a dental visit. The purpose of this study is to characterize query-based HIE use during dental visits at two Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that provided on-site dental services. First, we determine the proportion of dental visits for which providers accessed the HIE. Next, site, patient and visit characteristics associated with query-based HIE use during dental visits are examined. Last, among dental visits with HIE use, the aspects of the HIE that are accessed most frequently are described. HIE use was low (0.17%) during dental visits, however our findings from this study extend the body of research examining HIE use by studying a less explored area of the care continuum.