TMCnet News

Greater Houston Health Information Exchange Supports Secure Exchange of Clinical Information
[December 28, 2011]

Greater Houston Health Information Exchange Supports Secure Exchange of Clinical Information


HOUSTON --(Business Wire)--

The Greater Houston Health Information Exchange (GHHIE) is now operational after two physician groups successfully exchanged secure clinical messages via the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's Direct Project Protocol service. These organizations were the first to utilize the secure, electronic infrastructure of the GHHIE. The GHHIE will begin offering these services to participating healthcare providers in the Greater Houston area in January 2012.

Northwest Diagnostic Clinic, P.A. and Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants, P.A., began exchanging secure clinical messages in mid-December, greatly improving the timeliness of communication for both groups while reducing administrative costs.

The non-profit GHHIE, a collaborative health information exchange founded by the Harris County Healthcare Alliance and th Center for Houston's Future in mid-2010, is developing the ability to electronically connect healthcare and wellness providers to enable access to patient information for true continuity of care. The Direct Project functionality is just the first step.



Northwest Diagnostic Clinic treats Houston families at clinic locations on Cypress Station Drive in the FM 1960 area, in The Woodlands, and near the Texas Medical Center. Digestive & Liver Disease Consultants, located in Northwest Houston, is one of the first practices in the country to digitize all operations including patient medical records and transform into a paperless office. Partnering with the GHHIE was a natural fit for both organizations.

"Using GHHIE's electronic network, we will be able to better facilitate patient care," said Dr. Guru N. Reddy, founder of Digestive & Liver Consultants, P.A. and president of the Harris County Medical Society. "The fast, secure, and accurate exchange of information facilitated by the GHHIE provides a tangible benefit, both for us as caregivers and for our patients."


About the Greater Houston Health Information Exchange

The GHHIE is a neutral multi-stakeholder organization responsible for enabling information exchange among healthcare providers in the Greater Houston area which encompasses a 14-county region. It is tasked with mobilizing healthcare information electronically across organizations to enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of care and improve information access throughout the region. Key stakeholders include healthcare providers, payers, employers and the community as a whole.


[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]