Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE)

Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) is an initiative by healthcare professionals and industry to improve the way computer systems in healthcare share information. IHE promotes the coordinated use of established standards such as DICOM and HL7 to address specific clinical need in support of optimal patient care. Systems developed in accordance with IHE communicate with one another better, are easier to implement, and enable care providers to use information more effectively.

Optimal patient care requires that care providers and patients be able to create, manage and access comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) efficiently and securely. Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) accelerates the adoption of EHR systems by improving the exchange of information among healthcare systems. Its goal is to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of clinical care by making relevant health information conveniently accessible to patients and authorized care providers.

IHE USA is a not for profit organization founded in 2010 that operates as a national deployment committee of IHE International in the United States. IHE USA serves as a voice representing U.S. health IT interests and key partners in national health IT efforts for fostering the national adoption of a consistent set of information standards to enable interoperability of health IT systems.