A Multi-Agent Approach For HIE Design and Implementation

Inadequate patient information sharing is one of the major challenges of the US healthcare system. Some scholars believe that Healthcare Information Exchange (HIE) provides a viable solution for the problem. The past decade has seen many state and regional healthcare providers trying to set up HIE. The implementation of HIE, nonetheless, has encountered many difficulties. Using grounded theory approach, we present a qualitative study trying to identify the success and hindrance factors for the development of HIE. Specifically, through the lens of agency theory, we found that divergence of interests of HIE participants leads to inefficient HIE inter-organizational information system design and implementation. A multi-agent based IT system design framework is proposed to reduce the multi-agent problem.