Rural RHIOs: common issues in the development of two state-wide health information networks.
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
McGowan
Julie J
JJ
School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indiana, USA.
Jordan
Cy
C
Sims
Thomas
T
Overhage
J Marc
JM
D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007255:Information Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007256:Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D013219:State Government; D014707:Vermont