Visualization of Usage Status of Healthcare Information Exchange Activity: A Case Study of Mame-NET in Shimane Prefecture, Japan

Regional Health Information Exchange (HIE) networks have been introduced to facilitate information sharing between hospitals and clinics. An overview of the accessed patient information was conducted to enhance HIE utilization in Shimane Prefecture. Clinics and home nursing facilities had the most substantial browsing activity, followed by hospitals. Clinics were the ones that most frequently accessed hospital information. The numbers of home nursing facilities and clinics that accessed hospital information were comparable. The primary information requests focused on patients’ medical records (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan). HIEs have diverse functionalities and are indispensable for those accustomed to them; however, global challenges persist in improving their overall adoption. To further encourage the utilization of HIEs, it is essential to analyze current usage patterns thoroughly, model practical usage scenarios, and generate interest in a broader user base.