Primary Health Medical Group Connects to the Idaho Health Data Exchange
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Health care providers in Idaho and neighboring states can now securely access Primary Health Medical Group medical records through the Idaho Health Data Exchange, 24×7 and in real-time, enhancing patient care
Boise, Idaho, October 25th, 2016 – The Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE) announced today that Primary Health Medical Group (PHMG) has connected to the IHDE in a groundbreaking move that will allow the secure sharing of patient medical records with IHDE-enrolled physicians and providers throughout the state of Idaho and in Eastern Washington and Eastern Oregon.
Patients of PHMG will benefit from a higher quality of care as a result of this new connection. Now, 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 as an IHDE participant.
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.
David Peterman, M.D., PHMG President explains additional ways patients will benefit from this effort. “Now every progress note encounter from our 350,000 patient visits per year is uploaded in real time and available to any other IHDE-enrolled physicians who are treating the patient. 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. Having access to that patient information the moment it’s needed is absolutely invaluable for the patient and the treating doctors.”
“The integration of Primary Health’s office records with IHDE is a major step forward for the community, paving the way for significant improvements in care coordination and staff efficiency”, said Rick Turner, MD, CMIO, Saint Alphonsus Health System and Chair, Idaho Health Data Exchange. “The exchange of medical data is foundational to Population Health Management, and also benefits all care givers in urgent situations such as in the Emergency Room. Primary Health and all IHDE participants will also begin to see the value of Direct Secure messaging in the months to come, as this technology will be increasingly used as the vehicle for provider-to-provider communication, replacing the antiquated 1980s technology of the fax machine”, added Turner.
Ted Epperly, MD, President and CEO of the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho and the Chairman of the Idaho Healthcare Coalition Board of Directors states that “ultimately we want to see all primary care and specialty care clinics connect to the IHDE. By doing this we will achieve a seamless and secure transfer of clinic information that will help providers in caring for patients at any point in their healthcare journey. This directly aligns with the integration and coordination of care that the Idaho Health Care Coalition is attempting to obtain through our State Healthcare Innovation Program (SHIP) Grant.”
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 on-going funding comes from participants in the Exchange. For more information visit www.idahohde.org.
About Primary Health Medical Group
Boise-based Primary Health Medical Group is a predominately primary care medical group with 17 clinics and 79 providers seeing more than 300,000 patient visits a year. Most clinics offer walk-in urgent care and appointment-based family medicine, so unlike the traditional model, providers can work together to address episodic and chronic care needs. The group also has physicians in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, sports medicine, dermatology, occupational medicine, and ear, nose, and throat. Learn more at www.primaryhealth.com.
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