IntroductionThe Regional Health Information Organization, also known as RHIO, is the health information exchange organization that is part of the National Health Information Network. NHIN describes technologies, standards, laws, policies, programs and practices that enable the sharing of health information. The purpose of the RHIO organization is to facilitate the exchange of health information; which is the electronic transfer of health information between organizations. The motive of HIE is to improve the safety, quality and efficiency of healthcare, as well as access to healthcare through the efficient application of healthcare information technology. Pros and Cons NHIN's goals are to achieve nationwide health information exchange through the vision of using information technology solutions to reduce costs, avoid medical errors, and improve health care in America through the goals of informing practice clinic, interconnect doctors, personalize care and improve the health of the population. The benefits of these targets are identifiers. The physician's identity is authenticated through his or her provider number issued by the payer to whom the claim will ultimately be submitted. The identity of the patient to whom care was provided is authenticated through the member number issued by the payer. The clearing house only needs to validate these two pieces of information and the accuracy of the claim codes before submitting the claim to the payer on behalf of the provider. (Roop, 2008) Furthermore, NHIN provides simplicity, faster access to data, better privacy and uniform appearance of data. The downside is that multiple providers may seek access to each individual patient's information for a variety of reasons and two types of er... middle of the paper... the community should see tangible results of HIE operations. (Evaluation of a Potential HIE Opportunity, 2009) Works Cited Evaluation of a Potential HIE Opportunity. (2009, November). Retrieved from HIMSS Guide to Participating in HIE: http://www.himss.org/files/HIMSSorg/content/files/2009EvaluatingPotentialHIEOpportunity.pdfJamison, S. (n.d.). On the road to RHIO: What state CIOs need to know. Retrieved from Nascio: http://www.nascio.org/publications/documents/nascio-ontheroadtorhio.pdfRoop, E.S. (2008, December 8). Does the NHIN already exist? For the record, page. 14. Retrieved from http://www.fortherecordmag.com/archives/ftr_120808p14.shtmlRosenfeld, S., Koss, S., & Siler, S. (2007, June). Privacy, Security, and the Regional Health Information Organization. Retrieved from All Health: http://www.allhealth.org/briefingmaterials/chcf-rhioprivacy-1091.pdf