What is the SHIN-NY?

Introduction

The Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY), pronounced “shiny,” is New York State’s secure, interoperable health information exchange infrastructure. It enables authorized participants across the health and social care ecosystem to securely access and share patient information in support of care delivery, public health, and population health.

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) established and maintains the SHIN-NY to provide a single, statewide framework for data exchange. Today, the SHIN-NY connects 100% of New York State’s hospitals, over 100,000 healthcare professionals, and delivers health information exchange services to approximately 20,000 entities statewide. Participation and data contribution are required by regulation for hospitals and other regulated healthcare facilities.

Distorted and cropped photo of SHIN-NY information on a computer monitor.

Why the SHIN-NY Matters

Health information is fragmented across thousands of providers, systems, and communities. When a patient visits an emergency room, a specialist, or a new provider, critical information about their medications, allergies, diagnoses, and recent care may not be available. The SHIN-NY solves this problem by creating a single, trusted network for secure health data exchange across New York State.

By connecting the right information to the right people at the right time, the SHIN-NY enables:

Better Clinical Decisions

Providers access complete patient records, reducing duplicative tests, preventing adverse drug interactions, and enabling faster, more informed care.

Stronger Public Health

Real-time data supports disease surveillance, emergency response, and population health monitoring across the state.

Lower Costs and Greater Efficiency

Eliminating redundant procedures, streamlining care coordination, and supporting value-based payment models.

Health Equity

Ensuring that patients across all regions and communities have access to the benefits of connected care, regardless of where they receive services.

New York’s Vision: A Health Data Utility

New York is transforming the SHIN-NY from a health information exchange network into a comprehensive Health Data Utility (HDU), a trusted, statewide data infrastructure that serves as the foundation for clinical care, public health, research, and policy. This evolution positions New York as a national leader in health data infrastructure, ensuring that the SHIN-NY delivers maximum value to patients, providers, communities, and the state.