The first site in CalRHIO's statewide health information exchange (HIE) system is live in Orange County at Coastal Communities Hospital. As a result of collaboration between CalRHIO and the local HIE effort, the Orange County Partnership Regional Health Information Organization (OCPRHIO), 23 hospital emergency departments over the next five months will have secure electronic access to critical medical information. HIE is a major piece of the Obama Administration's health reform initiative and the focus of the state as it develops a plan to apply for HIE federal stimulus funds.
Initially data will be provided on 380,000 patients enrolled in CalOptima, which covers people in Medi-Cal, Medicare, and Healthy Kids. During 2010, more data sources will be added to the CalRHIO HIE, including prescription history, laboratory results, and additional clinical claims information. Additional Orange County providers will have access to the data as well, in support of OCPRHIO and State of California strategic plans.
By leveraging CalRHIO's technology platform, provided by its technology partner Medicity, OCPRHIO chose not to incur the time and expense of building its own data exchange system. Orange County physicians are assured that they can communicate with other doctors and hospitals across the state, as well as the national network.
"Our physicians and nurses are very excited about having this new source of information," said Nova Stewart, OCPRHIO Chair and Chief Information Officer of Integrated Healthcare Holdings, Inc. Four Integrated Healthcare Holdings Inc. hospitals are the first to begin using the new HIE system - Coastal Communities Hospital, Western Medical Center Anaheim, Western Medical Center Santa Ana, and Chapman Medical Center. "We believe that having access to patient data in the emergency department will enable us to better serve our patients," Stewart said.
"This is a new and innovative system that will benefit ER physicians in Orange County," said Patrick Aguilera, MD, Coastal Communities Hospital Emergency Room Medical Director. "It will allow physicians to communicate with each other efficiently using the notes tool. The ability to view a list of the patient's medications and other data is key to providing quality treatment to patients."