Idaho Health Data Exchange Expands State Health Information Network
The Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE), the state designated health information exchange (HIE), recently announced that St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Pathologists' Regional Laboratory in Lewiston are now connected and using the IHDE to exchange patient data with other healthcare providers throughout the state.
Powered by the Axolotl HIE platform from company OptumInsight, IHDE enables authorized and participating healthcare providers and physicians to securely exchange critical patient information electronically, in real-time. Axolotl networks disparate Health Information Systems (HIS) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) of physicians, hospitals, public health organizations, radiology centers and laboratories for the secure sharing of key clinical information, including laboratory results, radiology reports and referrals, and to electronically submit and renew prescriptions directly from their EHR system. Additionally, the Axolotl Virtual Health Record (VHR) provides physicians with single-click access to aggregated patient data from across the continuum of care.
"We are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of our community through the promotion of health, prevention of disease and injury, and the provision of health services," said Tim Sayler, CEO and President at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center. "As part of the Idaho Health Data Exchange network, we have significantly enhanced the communications between our physicians and the larger healthcare community in the region, by delivering critical patient health information at the point of care."
"Pathologists' Regional Laboratory is pleased to partner with the Idaho Health Data Exchange and to be able to share patient laboratory reports with other participating physicians to better manage their patients' care." said Bruce D. Saunders, General Manager at Pathologists' Regional Laboratory.
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is the largest full service Medical Center within a 100 mile radius with 145 acute care beds and 16 skilled nursing beds. Pathologists' Regional Laboratory is a full service reference laboratory committed to providing the highest quality clinical and anatomic laboratory services.
"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, IHDE. "We are pleased to have St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Pathologists' Regional Laboratory join our efforts to create a value-driven healthcare system through the development of a nationwide interoperable health information technology infrastructure."
IHDE has successfully connected several hospitals, more than 200 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 healthcare 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 ongoing funding comes from participants in the Exchange. For more information, visit http://www.idahohde.org/dsite/.
About Axolotl, now OptumInsight
Axolotl, now OptumInsight, part of Optum - a leading health services business has been providing products and services for secure health information exchange and management since 1995. Powering HIE for thousands of health care entities - including hospitals, health systems, regional health information organizations (RHIOs/HIEs), ACOs, clinics, laboratories, radiology centers and physician practices-they are reducing health care costs, eliminating redundancy and improving quality and efficiency.
Axolotl's SOA platform, Master Patient Index, EdgeServer(s), Interoperability Hub (I-HUB), Community Virtual Health Record (VHR), and EHR solutions are all provided as software as a service (SaaS). For more information, visit www.axolotl.com.
SOURCE: Idaho Health Data Exchange