HealtHIE Nevada announces success in the Health Information Exchange

Renown Health and Gastroenterology Consultants successfully connect to Health Information Exchange

Las Vegas, NV – HealtHIE Nevada, in partnership with the Nevada healthcare community and its stakeholders, announced today that Renown Health and Gastroenterology (GI) Consultants in Reno, Nevada have successfully connected to the HealtHIE Nevada Health Information Exchange (HIE).

The HIE is providing GI Consultants with the most up to date lab information available from Renown Health. It enables their physicians to receive real-time patient information instantly, automatically, and securely at the point of care. The lab data come directly from the HIE and radiology and transcription data are ready to access. In April 2012, Renown Health pushed more than 500,000 transactions to the HIE. Over 300,000 transactions have been pushed to date in May.

Renown HIE

Dr. Craig Sande of Gastroenterology Consultants stated, “Many physician groups in our region have begun to use electronic medical records. Unfortunately, the data generated is not easily shared with disparate systems. Gastroenterology Consultants working in conjunction with HealthInsight, and Renown Regional Medical Center have beta tested a Health Information Exchange, which will solve this problem by providing the seamless transfer of health information between the disparate systems. We are excited by the progress and confident that the capability will lead to improved health of all Nevadans through timely and accurate access to patient’s health information.”

The initial phase of the HIE takes the data from the issuing organization and passes it through the HIE, which then automatically routes it to the healthcare facility associated with the patient. Additional hospitals, physician offices, laboratories, and imaging centers from across the state of Nevada are slated to begin sharing information in the next couple of months. Future phases of the HIE include an expansion of the line of services, data inquiry, and data analytics capabilities.

“Now that the concept is proven, we look forward to many other independent healthcare providers joining this HIE,” said Chuck Scully, Chief Information Officer, Renown Health. “Having everyone participate in this single shared utility will bring the greatest value to all participants at the lowest possible cost. Renown Health is proud to be one of several independent organizations that have worked cooperatively to bring this important resource to our state and our community.”

About HealtHIE Nevada

HealtHIE Nevada is a newly incorporated private, Nevada non-profit, community-based organization dedicated to connecting the Nevada healthcare community by providing real time, secure, and accurate exchange of clinical information to improve the quality and continuum of healthcare for the patient.

In July of 2011, a contribution from Southwest Medical Associates, Inc. partially funded the HIE’s launch and initial operations. Additional support was provided by founding members of the HIE: Renown Health, Reno; Catholic Healthcare West, Southern and Northern NV; Sunrise Health System, the Valley Health System, Nevada Orthopedic and Spine Center, University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, and Healthcare Partners, Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit the HealtHIE Nevada Website at healthienevada.org.

Management of HealtHIE Nevada and its services are performed by HealthInsight, a recognized leader in quality improvement; transparency and public reporting; health information technology programs; healthcare system delivery and payment reform efforts; and human factors science research and application. HealthInsight has offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit the HealthInsight website at www.healthinsight.org.

HealthInsight Announces Launch of Community-based Health Information Exchange

The Health Information Exchange will provide instant access and secure exchange of health information to improve timeliness, quality, and coordination of Nevadan’s health care

Las Vegas, NV – HealthInsight, in partnership with the Nevada healthcare community and its stakeholders, announced today the launch of a Health Information Exchange (HIE) to improve the timeliness, quality, and coordination of care for Nevadans.

HealthInsight HIE, a community-based exchange, will enable providers to instantly, automatically, and securely receive and share real-time patient information at the point of care. The data will come directly from their electronic health records system (EHRs) and will include patient referrals, laboratory results, radiology reports, submitting prescriptions to pharmacies, and hospital discharge summaries. Patients will be required to authorize the transfer of their data before it is exchanged between their healthcare providers.

“HealthInsight’s mission is to improve the quality, safety, and delivery of healthcare in Nevada.

The launch of the HealthInsight HIE will dramatically further our mission,” said Deborah Huber, Executive Director, HealthInsight Nevada. “We are thrilled with the community support for this important and necessary initiative. We are coordinating with the State, the Broadband Initiatives and other programs that use health information technology to improve health care in Nevada, Together, our collaborations will provide a great value to Nevadans.”

A significant contribution from Southwest Medical Associates, Inc. partially funds the HIE’s launch and initial operations. Additional support was provided by founding members of the HealthInsight HIE: Renown Health, Reno; Catholic Healthcare West, Southern and Northern NV; the Hospital Corporation of America, the Valley Health System, Nevada Orthopedic and Spine Center, University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, and Healthcare Partners, Las Vegas, Nevada.

HealthInsight has contracted with Axolotl to establish the technical infrastructure and provide the ongoing support and operations of the HIE. Axolotl has demonstrated experience connecting providers who use a variety of electronic health record systems, including large and small hospitals, primary care practices, specialty groups, public health entities, labs, and radiology centers. Axolotl operates the statewide HIEs in Utah, Idaho, Nebraska, and Maryland, and regional HIEs in the tri-state Cincinnati area, Grand Junction, CO, Santa Cruz, CA, Rochester, Buffalo, Queens, Bronx, and Syracuse, NY, South Bend and Bloomington, IN, and Lansing, MI.

Early participants in the HealthInsight HIE, who will begin sharing patient information in September 2011, include primary care and specialty physician groups and hospitals in Northern and Southern Nevada. Plans include expanding the HIE to additional stakeholders across the state of Nevada.

HealthInsight is a private, non-profit, community based organization dedicated to improving health and health care. HealthInsight is an NRHI regional health improvement collaborative; an AHRQ-designated Chartered Value Exchange (CVE); an RWJ Foundation AF4Q community; a Medicare QIO, a state EQRO; a Regional Extension Center (REC) for Health Information Technology; an ONC Beacon Community; and a community health information exchange (HIE) organization.

HealthInsight is a recognized leader in quality improvement; transparency and public reporting; health information technology programs; healthcare system delivery and payment reform efforts; and human factors science research and application. HealthInsight has offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Las Vegas, NV, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit our website at www.HealthInsight.org.