December 09, 2009
Lansing State Journal
Say you have a problem with your knee. You go to your family doctor and she runs some tests and gives you a primary evaluation.
She sends you on to an orthopedic specialist. You arrive at the specialist's office expecting to restate your family health history and undergo the same round of tests.
But you don't have to. The information from your family doctor is already in the specialist's hands, delivered by a new health information sharing system being launched in the Lansing area.
Starting next year, the Capital Area Regional Health Information Organization (CARHIO) will begin seamlessly sharing medical information between doctors offices, hospitals and other health care organizations. Officials hope sharing information will streamline health care delivery to patients and reduce costs by eliminating such things as redundant tests.
CARHIO was developed by the Capital Area Health Alliance, an organization marking its 15th anniversary this year. Executive Director Valerie Glesnes-Anderson said CARHIO is the latest project of the organization founded to improve and coordinate health care in mid-Michigan - even though many people aren't aware the organization exists.
"We're not an organization that makes headlines," she said. "We're not splashy, but we work steady."
Why is a health care information-sharing system important?
It allows a doctor to see information from many sources in one space. (A woman in Cincinnati who has experienced it) told me it was the funniest thing: 'When I see one doctor, he knows right away what the other doctor is saying.' She's taken care of in ways she'd never seen before. She says: 'I am never leaving Cincinnati.'
How does health care factor into an area's economic development?
If you have a good health care system, you can attract good businesses. We're very fortunate in this community to have excellent health care services, with two great hospitals, Michigan State University and Lansing Community College, and others.
How do Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rules affect the work of CAHRIO?
CAHRIO is compliant with all HIPAA laws. Not only compliant, but exceeds them. RHIO (regional health information organization) information is sent to a special electronic file with encryption. I would regard it as safer than having information sent by fax.
What is the greatest concern facing health care in the Lansing area?
Access is the greatest concern. We're also facing some doctor shortages, both with general practice physicians and specialists. We've got an aging population that is going to require more and more care.
What is the alliance doing to increase the number of doctors in the area?
We have a big initiative called Capital Area Physician Experience. We're reaching out to physicians to retain and recruit them to the area. The purpose is to make sure we're doing anything we can to keep those who graduate (from MSU's medical schools) and keep those who are already here.