Abstract: In one arrangement of a system for automated health information exchange, each server is configured to receive patient encounter information from corresponding entities. The patient encounter information includes affiliation information that identifies a patient's affiliation with one or more health care entities of a group of health care entities. Once received, the server reviews the affiliation information to identify other facilities that have provided, or are about to provide, care to the patient. The server establishes and maintains a link, such as a network link, with each of these other entities identified in the patient encounter information. Based upon the links and patient authorizations, the server can automatically retrieve the patient's electronic patient records from the other facilities' servers and forward the records to its corresponding entity, or automatically send the patient's electronic patient records to the linked facilities' servers.