Idaho Health Data Exchange Welcomes Primary Health Medical Group and eClinicalWorks
Boise, Idaho, February 28, 2012–The Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE), the Health Information Exchange (HIE) in Idaho, announced today that Primary Health Medical Group and eClinicalWorks® have joined IHDE as participants to access and share health information to provide safer, and more timely, efficient, effective and equitable patient-centered care.
“Connecting hospitals, physicians and healthcare providers is part of IHDE’s efforts to improve the coordination and quality of healthcare in Idaho,” said Scott Carrell, Executive Director, Idaho Health Data Exchange. “We are pleased to have Primary Health Medical Group and eClinicalWorks EHR solutions join our value-driven healthcare system through the development of a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure.”
David L. Peterman, MD, President of Primary Medical Group and practicing Pediatrician said: “Health care providers at Primary Health Medical Group have been using electronic health records (EHRs) for over four years. They understand the tremendous value in giving their patients the best and safest care by having a single source of information with EHRs. The Idaho Health Data Exchange will further allow our providers to have access to accurate and up to date lab, X-ray and hospital information about their patients. Use of the Idaho Health Data Exchange will ensure that when Primary Health Medical Group patients are seen in a hospital or by a consultant, accurate past medical histories, current medications and lists of allergies will always be available.”
“Recently, while caring for a 4-day old infant, I was able to access the baby’s discharge lab results by simply going online and logging on to the Idaho Health Data Exchange. There were no phone calls, no faxes and no chances of getting the wrong information. We believe the more physicians in Idaho who use the Idaho Health Data Exchange, the better care we can give to all of our patients,” added Dr. Peterman.
Idaho physicians using the eClinicalWorks V9 comprehensive unified EHR, practice management and interoperability solution can immediately connect to the state HIE and have access to community wide clinical data from all participating data sources and health care providers instantly and securely. Through a single interface, practices and clinics using eClinicalWorks can seamlessly push or pull information from any participant that feeds data into the Idaho Health Data Exchange. The interface will save practices, providers and clinics time on interface building, and the cost for connectivity thereby allowing the practice to focus and provide for the needs of the patients.
“In order to maximize efficiency of electronic health records, their use needs to extend outside of the practice,” said Girish Navani, CEO and co-founder of eClinicalWorks. “eClinicalWorks has always supported initiatives that promote that goal and we are pleased to be a part of the Idaho Health Data Exchange.”
Powered by the Optum Health Information Exchange platform, IHDE enables authorized and participating health care providers to securely exchange critical patient information electronically from hospitals, labs, radiology centers and other business partners, and sending referrals or consults to other health care providers in real-time. IHDE has successfully connected several hospitals, more than 500 participating users and independent reference labs to the statewide exchange, and is actively working to connect additional physician practices, hospitals, lab and radiology centers, and all other health care stakeholders across Idaho.
About The Idaho Health Data Exchange
The Idaho Health Data Exchange, Inc., a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation, was established to govern the development and implementation of the health data exchange in Idaho. IHDE is governed by a Board of Directors which provides direction and oversight to the organization. The Board includes representation from both the public and private sectors, including the health care delivery and financing systems, health care providers and consumers.
The IHDE was created as a result of the efforts of the Health Quality Planning Commission. The Health Quality Planning Commission was created by the 2006 Legislature. The Commission was charged with promoting improved quality of care and health outcomes through investment in health information technology.
Initial funding for the effort was appropriated by Idaho’s Legislature and on-going funding comes from participants in the Exchange and from ARRA grant dollars. IHDE is using the grant dollars to assist providers, hospitals and EHR solutions to connect within the state. One-time interface fees can be subsidized and first year annual fees waived. For more information visithttp://www.idahohde.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
