With more data sources and physician practices utilizing HEALTHeLINK, approximately 2.5 million patient records were securely accessed through the exchange in 2016 alone.

Participating HEALTHeLINK providers are notified in real time with alert notifications of their patients' admissions, including emergency department visits and discharges and transfers from local hospitals and long term care facilities. Through this functionality, providers can be prepared sooner with the patients' transitions of care. As of yearend 2016, 816 providers have subscribed 300,254 of their patients for alert notifications. A total of 234,059 alerts were delivered in 2016.

The study on usage of HEALTHeLINK in 3 separate EDs resulted in substantive benefits to the healthcare system and more importantly the patient (result report on the study and its findings can be found here).  In 2016, the utilization of HEALTHeLINK in WNY emergency departments doubled. However, there remain a number of emergency departments where HEALTHeLINK is underutilized. HEALTHeLINK will focus on working with local emergency departments and ED doctors and staff to increase the number of patient data queries. In addition to illustrating the value this patient information provides, HEALTHeLINK is also working to ease the workflow for providers and staff by implementing a single click access to the patient summary from within the ED EMR. Other outreach efforts include a focus on low ED utilizers to provide education on the benefits of utilizing HEALTHeLINK in this specific clinical setting. 

As a result of a change in New York State policy, participating providers can now securely access data through HEALTHeLINK for minor patients 10-17 years of age. Access to the data requires a parent or legal guardian signing an affirmative HEALTHeLINK consent form on behalf of the minor patient.

 

"This change in state policy gives parents and legal guardians the peace of mind that their child's treating pediatrician or specialist will have the most up to date health information," said Dan Porreca, HEALTHeLINK's executive director. "For a child who may see several different physicians, having access to this information will allow for better and more efficient care. It is also helpful in those instances when the child's grandparent or another caregiver brings them for an appointment and they do not have the child's medical history readily available."

 

The ability to access data for a minor 10-17 years of age is the result of changes to a New York State policy regarding access to patient data through a Qualified Entity (QE) such as HEALTHeLINK. Consent for children younger than 10 years of age has and will continue to allow access for treating physicians. Participating providers need to be aware that it is possible that the minor patient's record may contain sensitive information that is protected under New York State law and may not be re-disclosed to the minor's parent or guardian without the minor's written consent. This information includes, but may not be limited to reproductive health services, mental health or substance use treatment, HIV testing and STD treatment or services consented to by an emancipated minor.  

For more information on access to minor patient data based on a parental consent, please contact HEALTHeLINK at 716-206-0993 ext. 105.

Participating radiology providers now have the ability to transfer radiology images from HEALTHeLINK into their own Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). This functionality helps radiologists save time when looking for previous scans, and it enables more comparative studies in determining diagnoses and future treatments. Windsong Radiology was the first practice to participate, and HEALTHeLINK is in the early stages of image transfer rollout to other radiology providers throughout the region. 

Over the next several weeks, HEALTHeLINK will be introducing an enhanced support service for reporting of any questions or issues relative to the delivery of HEALTHeLINK and HEALTHeNET services. The support line staff have been trained in the handling of all support requests. To help facilitate this transition, we have added a local support line phone number and the ability to log a support request by e-mail.

 

This 24/7 service is available by calling 1-877-895-4724 or 1-716-842-6343.

Hear firsthand from various local health care leaders about the value and benefits of health information exchange in Western New York with the HEALTHeLINK Medical Minute. http://wnyhealthelink.com/WhatWeDo/MedicalMinutes