E-health information exchange assures better patient care

In order for patients to receive better and safer care, all players in the healthcare system, like hospitals, doctors and pharmacies, must be able to quickly find, evaluate and understand a patient’s medical information. The process of securely sharing this information prevents a patient from receiving medications that interfere with those previously prescribed. The gap in communication between a patient’s physician and a doctor in the emergency room can have serious health-altering consequences.

To close this gap, electronic health information exchange, soon enabled by the Pennsylvania Patient and Provider Network (P3N), is here to help. For this to work correctly, local healthcare providers need to connect to a regional health information organization (HIO). The HIO connects to the P3N hub and patient’s information flows to other HIOs and participating healthcare providers. 

P3N, a service from the Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority, is currently under development, but pilot programs will launch later this year in the Lehigh Valley and southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Electronic health information exchange is important for patients and providers alike. The information exchange benefits everyone by cutting down on redundant testing and medications. It will help to reduce unnecessary costs; in Washington state, a similar data-sharing initiative saved $33 million in Medicaid ER costs in the first year of the program alone.

For this program to be successful, maximum participation from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and others in the healthcare system is a must. The more patient information provided, the better. 

For additional information, please see: www.pennlive.com/opinion/2014/07/in_emergencies_minutes_matter.html.

PA Senate votes to expand Medicare; Bill's future in House uncertain

In a 40-10 vote, the AP (7/1, Levy) reports, “The Pennsylvania state Senate approved legislation to require Gov. Tom Corbett to seek federal approval for an expansion of Medicaid eligibility to hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, although it faces death in the more conservative House of Representatives where Republican leaders have vowed not to bring it to a floor vote.” The AP adds, “All 23 Democrats voted for it, as did 17 of 27 Republican senators,” including Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware). The AP notes, “Corbett has been silent on the bill, although Senate Republican and Democratic leaders say they negotiated the amendment with Corbett’s office, and wrote certain conditions into it to make it more amenable to him, as well as Republican lawmakers who might otherwise oppose the health care law.”