The health care industry continually explores cost-effective methods to increase patient safety, privacy, and access to quality care. The Florida Association of RHIOs (FAR) was started by health care researchers, practitioners, managers, and advocates to facilitate development of secure and interoperable electronic health information networks that enable timely exchange of patient data between providers. FAR promotes participation in and use of Health Information Exchange (HIE) throughout Florida through education and training programs, public awareness activity, presentations to legislative and regulatory bodies, participating in research and demonstration projects, and developing technologies and implementing functional HIE programs in communities and regions across the state. Click here for more information on benefits of HIE.

Florida emerged as a leader in the national movement toward electronic Health Information Exchange (HIE) when the legislature established the Florida Health Information Network (FHIN) Grants Program in 2005. The Florida Legislature authorized $5.5 million in grant funds used to create HIE projects, known as Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO’s), in communities throughout the state. In 2007, leaders of these projects organized the Florida Association of RHIOs (FAR) to maximize the collective resources of the RHIOs and make progress toward shared goals. While individual RHIOs have unique programs and operations, FAR provides a unified voice and coordinating resource for advocacy, education and collaboration.