Iowa’s Designated Statewide HIE
Converge Health Iowa is purpose-built to manage and operate Iowa’s health information exchange on behalf of the state and its participants. We are advancing interoperability across the state's entire health ecosystem—connecting clinical, behavioral health, public health, and social care data to drive measurable outcomes for every Iowan.
The Cost of Disconnected Care
In a fragmented system, the "right" data is often in the wrong place. This creates significant hurdles for providers and patients alike.
MISSING INFORMATION
27% of ED patients arrive with incomplete medical data, forcing physicians to make follow-up calls in 57% of cases. These information gaps cause documented treatment delays of up to 240 minutes.
- Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2024
LONGER HOSPITAL STAYS
In a study of 80,000 ED encounters, HIE access significantly reduced length of stay and 30-day readmissions. The impact was greatest for patients with chronic conditions, complex diagnoses, and rare presentations.
Source: Janakiraman et al., Management Science, 2023.
MANUAL REPORTING
The national average 30-day all-cause readmission rate is approximately 14.7%, and about 70% of US hospitals incurred CMS readmission penalties in FY 2024.
- Definitive Healthcare HospitalView, 2025; CMS Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.
BROKEN TRANSITIONS
Only 600 of 1,355 critical access hospitals nationwide are currently reporting via eCR, leaving most rural facilities still relying on fax, web forms, and manual entry.
- CDC PHDS, 2024. (eCR = Electronic Case Reporting)
Why a Statewide HIE Matters
By uniting disparate systems under one trusted network, we empower providers, payers, and public health agencies to make informed, evidence-based decisions.
Whole-Person Care
We integrate clinical and social care data for a holistic view of health.
Improved Outcomes
Access to a longitudinal patient record supports better clinical decision-making.
Operational Efficiency
Real-time visibility into resources like bed availability optimizes state-wide capacity.
Regulatory Compliance
Streamlined data submission to meet public health requirements efficiently.
Core Interoperability Services
Our comprehensive portfolio of services is designed to support your clinical and operational workflows.
Health Information Exchange
The core clinical data repository, patient identity matching system, and interoperability hub delivering secure, standards-based data exchange across the Iowa health ecosystem. The trusted intermediary that connects every other service.
Clinical query portal providing longitudinal access to patient data via the browser or integration into your EHR, with an option for record-locator and query based exchange.
Real-time event notifications (ENS) based on a patient roster provided by HIE participants.
Integrated Social Care Pathway
Bridging clinical care with social data and community resources via social care integration.
HIPAA compliant provider secure messaging including Direct mailboxes or HISP XDS integration with your EHR.
Support for Electronic Lab Reporting (ELR) and Syndromic Surveillance Public Health reporting .
Features Coming Soon
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Bed and Resource Availability Real-time visibility into hospital bed capacity, including psychiatric and specialty beds, to support faster placement, transfer, and EMS routing decisions.
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Diagnostic Quality Image Exchange Secure access to diagnostic-quality medical images across participating organizations, so clinicians can view prior studies without waiting on CDs, transfers, or repeat scans.
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Smart Search and Smart Summary AI-assisted tools that help clinicians quickly surface relevant information and generate concise patient summaries from across the longitudinal record.
Built on Standards and Security
Converge Health Iowa adheres to nationally recognized health data standards — ensuring compatibility with the broadest range of EHR systems and partner organizations.
We operate a robust, standards-based infrastructure designed for maximum security and scalability. By adhering to national standards like HL7 v2.5.1, CDA/C-CDA, and FHIR, we ensure compatibility across the broadest range of EHR systems.
Join the Network
Whether you are a hospital, a small clinic, or a community organization, your participation strengthens Iowa’s health ecosystem. Joining is easy! Here’s how it works: