Primary Health Medical Group has connected to the Idaho Health Data Exchange in a move that will allow patients' medical records to be shared securely with IHDE-enrolled physicians and providers throughout the state, as well as parts of Washington and Oregon.
What this means is that any caregivers who are enrolled with the IHDE -- including a patient's family doctor, emergency room physician, specialists, even pharmacies and long-term care facilities -- can have secure, HIPAA-compliant access to a patient's records in real time.
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In the clinic setting, PHMG will be able to redirect additional hours directly to patient care, as they will no longer be faxing patient records throughout the day.
"When one of our patients visits the emergency room or sees a specialist, their records are available in the IHDE without having to wait for business hours to call one of our 17 clinics and request a fax," said PHMG President David Peterman, MD, in a statement. "Having access to that patient information the moment it's needed is absolutely invaluable for the patient and the treating doctors."
Rick Turner, CMIO of Saint Alphonsus Health System and chair of the Idaho Health Data Exchange, said the exchange of medical data is one of the foundations of population health management, Ted Epperly, MD, president and CEO of the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho and the chairman of the Idaho Healthcare Coalition Board of Directors, said that "ultimately we want to see all primary care and specialty care clinics connect to the IHDE."
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