Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) accelerates the adoption of EHRs by improving the exchange of information among healthcare systems.

IHE's 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. To do this, it engages healthcare information technology stakeholders in a proven annual process to test systems for interoperability – carefully planned and supervised events called Connectathons.

IHE profiles provide a standards-based framework for sharing information within care sites and across networks. They address critical interoperability issues related to information access for care providers and patients, clinical workflow, security, administration and information infrastructure. Each profile defines the actors, transactions and information content required to address the clinical use case by referencing appropriate standards.