In today’s connected world, the
ability to electronically move clinical health information in a private and
secure manner between disparate health information silos is now possible. The technology available can create secure, interoperable
networks amongst legacy systems to achieve delivery of health information from
multiple sources at point of care to enhance the quality, safety and efficiency
of care delivered. The use of such a
system can improve the coordination of patient-centered care while at the same
time facilitating the reduction in healthcare spending and achieving improved
health outcomes. Moreover, the ability
to aggregate de-identified health data for the purposes of public health
surveillance offers great opportunity to improve the health of targeted
populations. The opportunities to
improve healthcare quality and cost reduction afforded by health information
exchange (HIE) systems and the use of electronic medical records is now being
driven at the federal level through a variety of funding opportunities created
in a section of A.R.R.A 2009 known as
the HITECH Act (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health
Act).
The Nebraska Health Information
Initiative (NeHII, Inc.) is a Nebraska, 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation,
whose purpose is to provide Nebraska a statewide health information exchange
(HIE). The infrastructure for the HIE is
provided by NeHII’s vendor partner, Axolotl. Implementation of the HIE, now in its
statewide expansion phase, has met the mission of providing a private, secure,
network for health information exchange, thus allowing the acquisition of
disparate sources of health information at point of care. Information currently available through the
exchange includes lab and x-ray reports, clinical notes, medication history,
allergies, demographic and eligibility data for those with coverage through
BCBS Nebraska (currently the only payer participating in the HIE). Secure exchange of health information remains
the top priority to protect the integrity and confidentiality of the data.
As a full-time practicing, board
certified neurologist, I have seen the benefits and values of HIE in clinical
practice. Without question, the ability
to aggregate a patient’s health information from disparate sources at point of
care enhances the quality, efficiency, and safety of the care I’m able to provide. Moreover, the HIE has cut down the
administrative task and time to obtain pertinent health information. From the patient’s perspective, the HIE
allows for improved coordination of care, greater efficiency in the delivery of
care, not to mention being able to reduce unnecessary/duplicative testing. The use of health information technology (HIE
and EMR’s) is not about the technology itself, but rather using the technology
to meaningfully use health information to achieve higher quality, more cost effective
and safer care for our patients. Lastly,
only through the use of information technology can the increasing requirements
for health data reporting be met.
Harris A. Frankel,
M.D., is President of Nebraska Health Information Initiative (NeHII, Inc.).
My doctor has untilized H.I.T. and it performs wonderfully. No longer is he carrying a folder/chart, he is carrying a notebook, with all of my health/treatment information a click away. Any prescriptions we agree on are transmitted electronically to the pharmacy of my choice, eliminating a long wait at the counter while the prescription is filled. The only concerns I have with H.I.T. are 1. Are the insurance companies going to be able to use this information to refuse coverage for "pre-existing" conditions? 2. Are the insurance companies going to be able to use this information in determining rates? 3. Is the information completely confidential in regards to the government? If we as patients can be reassured that all information is 100% confidential between the physician and the patient, I'm all for it.
Posted by: Jona Lunde | 02/24/2010 at 05:20 PM