Missouri Health Connection Rolls-Out Statewide Health Information Network
Missouri Health Connection (MHC) has announced the grand opening of its health information network, paving the way for a new era of collaboration among healthcare providers to improve care quality, boost patient satisfaction, and reduce healthcare costs for all Missourians. The state’s physicians and patients now have one connection for a healthier Missouri, instead of having to navigate a complex maze of information sources to improve the health of patients.
MHC’s grand opening culminates work across the state to create an electronic highway that supports providing physicians with secure access to health information throughout Missouri and neighboring states, as well as the national health information network. Achieving this milestone places MHC among a small number of elite states that have attained similar objectives to provide physicians with quick access to the information they need for clinical decision making. With its state-wide health information highway up and running, MHC is empowering physicians with a comprehensive view of patient medical histories, helping MHC fulfill its mission to improve the healthcare of all Missourians.
“We at St. Louis Children’s Hospital are honored to participate and contribute to MHC’s effort. It complements the framework that we put in place to achieve interoperability. Now we have the right HIT foundation to coordinate the care for our patients and collaborate with other care providers in a way that ensures the highest quality and patient safety,” said Feliciano Yu, Jr., MD, MSHI, MSPH, FHIMSS, Chief Medical Information Officer, St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Key milestones achieved by MHC include:
- Providing services to more than 7,000 physicians, serving patients in 62 hospitals and more than 350 clinics in Missouri and neighboring states to improve care quality
- Electronic notifications to alert physicians about important events, such as when their patients are admitted to the hospital, may need care in an out-of-town emergency , important test results from referring physicians, and more
- Continuity of care documents can be securely exchanged between health providers to reduce redundant medical tests and to ensure that patients receive the appropriate care based on their medical history
- MHC currently processes more than 250,000 electronic transactions per day to help healthcare providers improve operational efficiency and deliver the highest quality, most cost-effective care
“MHC has essentially built the freeway that Missouri healthcare providers will use to access the vital information needed to make medical decisions,” said Mary Kasal, CEO of MHC. “The highway is open and traffic is flowing, all with the purpose to improve the healthcare of all Missourians.”
MHC is Missouri’s state-designated entity tasked with creating and managing the infrastructure to connect healthcare providers in Missouri and neighboring states with their patients via a secure health information network. As more health care providers move from paper-based medical records to electronic health record (EHR) systems, MHC is working to make sure that all providers can exchange information with each other through one secure network. The connectivity services provided by MHC are designed to support all healthcare provider organizations, from the largest multi-hospital health system, to a solo physician practice.
“The work being done by Missouri Health Connection will enable Missouri providers to access health information securely and appropriately and be able to collaborate to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare in the state,” said Christopher Muir, state health information exchange program manager with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. “We are excited that this important contribution helps move us toward a nationwide goal of improved care through health information exchange.”
A key component to MHC’s success is its ability to connect with all certified EHR systems. This is in contrast to some health information networks that limit connectivity and services by requiring the use of software from a specific vendor. MHC’s vendor-neutral approach connects a broad array of health systems, users, and applications, which elevates the volume and value of information within the network while making truly comprehensive electronic health records possible. This interoperability is accomplished by design, and through the use of InterSystems HealthShare® software to enable the sharing of information across multiple systems and organizations.
“Missouri Health Connection is a national leader in health information exchange. InterSystems is proud to have been selected to provide the secure, interoperable infrastructure for MHC through our HealthShare strategic informatics platform,” said Paul Grabscheid, Vice President of Strategic Planning, InterSystems. “We look forward to supporting MHC as it reaches new milestones in connected healthcare.” MHC looks forward to working with all of the physicians, hospitals, clinics and patients in Missouri to assure the best possible care available in the United States.
About Missouri Health Connection
MHC is Missouri’s state-designated entity implementing Missouri’s secure, statewide health information network. Coordinating care, reducing preventable errors, and avoiding treatment duplication are among MHC’s primary goals. MHC’s network will improve patient care and help save lives in emergencies by securely delivering more complete and accurate information at the point of care, or wherever it is needed. MHC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and is governed by a public-private board of directors. For information, visit www.MissouriHealthConnection.org.