What is a RHIO?

• A. A regional health information organization that connects multiple providers to share data
• B. A single hospital's internal patient data system
• C. A federal database of all patient records
• D. An international health information network

Answer: (A)

A RHIO is a regional health information organization that connects multiple healthcare providers to share patient data within a defined geographic area. It creates the governance, standards, and technical infrastructure that allow different EHR systems across hospitals, clinics, labs, and public health entities to exchange information securely and efficiently. The focus is on interoperability and authorized access so clinicians can view relevant data—like medications, allergies, labs, and discharge summaries—no matter where the patient was previously treated, which supports better care coordination and reduces redundant tests. It’s not a single hospital’s internal system, nor a federal database of all records, nor an international network; those options describe broader or different scopes of data sharing.