October 24, 2011
OKEMOS, MI, October 24, 2011 - The Great Lakes Health Information Exchange (GLHIE) announced today an agreement that was adopted on October 17th to connect the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) to the GLHIE, extending the availability of electronic patient health information across much of lower Michigan and northern Ohio.
"This new partnership affirms our commitment to using the latest information technology solutions to benefit our patients," says Jocelyn DeWitt, PhD, chief information officer, U-M Hospital and Health Centers."
"We will significantly expand our ability to access clinical data for UMHS and non-UMHS patients in Michigan through GLHIE. Secure access to relevant medical information about individual patients from multiple sources will help our clinicians improve treatment, prevent errors and avoid duplicate testing."
"We welcome this partnership with U of M Health Systems as an opportunity to improve the quality of health care for UMHS patients across the region," said Carol Parker, executive director of the Great Lakes Health Information Exchange. "When an institution of this caliber selects you as a partner, it is confirmation of your technology and organizational model."
The GLHIE enables the secure exchange of patient health information from across multiple providers using the Optum HIE platform from OptumInsight, which has also recently been selected by the Michigan Health Information Exchange to connect sub-state HIEs statewide.
GLHIE is a substate HIE, and along with other sub-state HIEs in the Michigan will eventually feed into the Michigan Health Information Network that will enable the exchange of patient date throughout the state. The broader vision for the future is that the National Health Information Network would connect all the state networks.
About Great Lakes Health Information Exchange
The Great Lakes Health Information Exchange, formerly known as the Capital Area Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO), is a collaborative health information exchange (HIE) governed by its partners, including Michigan State University, Sparrow Health System, Hayes Green Beach Hospital, Clinton/Eaton/Ingham Community Mental Health, Ingham County Health Department, the State of Michigan, Capital Area Health Alliance, and local physicians. For more information, visit www.glhie.org.