[December 28, 2011] |
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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.
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