Why was ShareWISE created?
The Situation Proprietary data systems limit data sharing beyond their boundaries. Technological and economic limitations inherent in proprietary data systems, such as ICCs, prevent sending electronic updates to clinics who are not members of the system. Each time a patient moves from clinic to regional hospital, to convalescence, and back home again will predictably involve faxes, phone calls, and hand-carrying copies. The risk of overlooking or losing in transit part of the records is ever present. Centralized data systems require a lot of communication to keep one record for each patient current and then distribute that information to member practitioners Practitioners control access to patients records . The Situation Too many uninsured; not enough healthcare facilities The U.S. Census Bureaus 2001 estimate is that there are 1.2 million people in the Austin tri-county area; 24% of them, or 280,000 are uninsured. [CITE] In Travis County, 68% of health and human service agencies and
