Idaho clinicians can access SAHS diagnostic-quality images, instantly through the IHDE
Boise, Idaho, November 4, 2014 – The Idaho Health Data Exchange (IHDE) and Saint Alphonsus Health System (SAHS) announced today the launch of Image Exchange viewing capability by eHealth Technologies.
Image Exchange allows IHDE-authorized physicians, hospitals and clinicians to instantly access, view and collaborate on their patients’ SAHS diagnostic-quality images from the IHDE through a secure, universal web application. Powered by eHealth Technologies, images including X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, and ultrasounds that traditionally take hours or days to procure, are now available within seconds from the IHDE via Image Exchange. All images are available where and when they are needed, saving health care dollars from being wasted on unnecessary duplicated imaging procedures and time spent waiting to receive film copies, large file transfers or cd’s.
“The IHDE is excited to be able to offer participants this new functionality,” said Scott Carrell, Executive Director, Idaho Health Data Exchange. “It further develops IHDE’s ability to assist health care providers by providing them with easy access to images for the treatment of their patients.”
“We always strive to provide the very best in information security, accessibility, and convenience for our clinicians and patients,” said Rick Turner, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at Saint Alphonsus Health System. “The Image Exchange is a positive step in achieving the best in patient care and universal access, and we are proud to be able to work with eHealth Technologies and the Idaho Health Data Exchange in making the new technology a reality.”
“We are excited to be providing IHDE with the convenience of single click access to any diagnostic-quality image, right from the context of the patients’ record,” said Ken Rosenfeld, Chief Executive Officer and President, eHealth Technologies. “IHDE and Saint Alphonsus Health System have joined a cadre of HIEs and hospitals, from coast to coast, who are realizing that sharing diagnostic-quality medical images is not only an effective way to provide better care and decrease cost, but is also very easy and quick to deploy.”
Idaho physicians using the IHDE Image Exchange feature can get easier and quicker access to images versus the traditional way of logging onto multiple sites, or calling and faxing in requests to hospitals’ imaging and medical records departments and independent imaging centers – and then waiting for cd’s to be burned and sent via mail, courier or with the patient. As soon as an image has been signed off by a radiologist, it is available and accessible via the IHDE Image Exchange within seconds.
The multiple benefits of accessing images from the IHDE include:
- Minimizing delays in patient treatment
- Reducing the need for costly duplicate exams
- Limiting unnecessary radiation exposure for patients
- Decreasing risk of medical errors due to incomplete records
- Patients no longer need to obtain and carry CDs of their images
- Physicians can compare current and past diagnostic tests
- The systems is all web-based and hyperlink driven – there is nothing for physicians or hospitals to download and no additional usernames and passwords to remember
- IHDE enables authorized and participating health care providers to securely exchange critical patient information electronically from hospitals, providers, labs and radiology centers to other health care providers in real-time. IHDE has successfully connected several hospitals, labs and providers, and more than 1,200 participating users to the statewide exchange, and is actively working to connect additional hospitals, physician practices and all other health care 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 on-going funding comes from participants in the Exchange and from ARRA grant dollars. For more information visit http://www.idahohde.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
About Saint Alphonsus Health System
As a faith-based Catholic ministry and not-for-profit health system, Saint Alphonsus Health System reinvests in the communities we serve, through charity care and other benefits. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of people by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, physician-led, innovative and community-based. Saint Alphonsus Health System serves the people of southwestern Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada through these facilities: Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center – Boise, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Nampa, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario, OR; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City, OR; and, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group with primary and specialty care providers at 58 clinic locations, all of which are members of the Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance, a network of over 1400 employed and independent providers. To find out more go to: www.saintalphonsus.org
About eHealth Technologies™
eHealth Technologies is the industry-leading provider of continuity of care solutions, serving over half of the nation’s top 100 hospitals, including 12 of the top 18 U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll Hospitals for 2013-2014, and leading health information exchanges (HIEs) across the United States. The company’s eHealth Connect® Referral Pathways solution enhances patient and physician satisfaction by streamlining transitions of care, and assuring physicians have the right healthcare information to care for their patients, right when they need it. As a critical adjunct to HIEs, eHealth Connect® Image Exchange enables the automated access to all types of medical images in the context of the aggregated patient record, in full diagnostic quality, and supports the ability for providers to meet Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements. For more information, follow us @eHealthTec and visit www.https://ehealthtechnologies.com/.
