The Hawaii Island Beacon Community (HIBC) has awarded a $680,000 contract to North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) to implement a Health Information Exchange (HIE) system throughout the region, impacting more than 32,000 patients and marking the first step toward an
The Hawaii Island Beacon Community (HIBC) has awarded a $680,000 contract to North Hawaii Community Hospital (NHCH) to implement a Health Information Exchange (HIE) system throughout the region, impacting more than 32,000 patients and marking the first step toward an islandwide HIE. Implementation has begun and will continue through 2012.
NHCH’s existing vendor partner, Wellogic, has already laid the technical foundation for the HIE, connecting information systems from NHCH; affiliated physician groups; two statewide labs; all pharmacies, radiology and imaging centers in the region; a national database of dispensed prescriptions; and a Federally Qualified Health Center.
“We are pleased to support the groundbreaking initiatives of NHCH to help providers in the North Hawaii region adopt and benefit from the latest technology in health care,” said HIBC CEO Susan Hunt, project director. “NHCH has pioneered the use of Electronic Health Records by North Hawaii providers and helped to achieve a nearly 95 percent adoption rateâ one of the highest for any community nationwide. The region is more than ready to take the next step, and both patients and providers will benefit from the streamlined operations that a secure HIE system makes possible.”
“It’s an exciting breakthrough for health care in North Hawaii,” said William Park, M.D., chief medical officer and general surgeon at NHCH, who has championed the region’s HIE since the project’s inception. “Our partnership with Wellogic has been very successful, and we have built up to a smooth launch. Through access to comprehensive, up-to-date patient information for providers and, eventually, patients themselves, care will be more efficient, more easily coordinated and more holistic.”
Wellogic staff will be conducting training for all North HawaiâÄòi providers. In addition, HIBC staff, in partnership with staff from the Hawaii Pacific Regional Extension Center, will continue ongoing support related to the adoption and use of EHR.
In addition to supporting and assisting with EHR and HIE implementation, HIBC is working to effect clinical transformation, particularly in terms of greater coordination of and access to care for patients who are most at-risk for chronic diseases, and conducting outreach by awarding $300,000 to the community in the form of Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Grants. Visit www.hibeacon.org.
