[Med-privacy] WA State Health Information Infrastructure

[Peter Marshall]

For immediate release: December 1, 2006
State report urges electronic sharing of patient information

OLYMPIA =96 The Washington State Health Care Authority today announced=20=

the Health Information Infrastructure Advisory Board (HIIAB) has=20
released their report recommending that Washington create health record=20=

banks that would allow hospitals and other providers to electronically=20=

share information about their patients.

=93This recommendation aligns with Governor Chris Gregoire=92s =
commitment=20
to safe, accurate care and her request that by 2012, all hospitals and=20=

providers establish information technology systems,=94 said Steve Hill,=20=

Health Care Authority Administrator.

=93We have a responsibility to insure that all Washingtonians have =
access=20
to quality health care that fits within their budget,=94 said Governor=20=

Gregoire. =93Using electronic medical records can help
keep costs down and improve patient safety.=94

A number of hospitals and other providers currently use electronic=20
medical records (EMR). Many of the facilities are not a part of the=20
same provider network and are unable to share patient information.

=93Instead of several small clusters of providers who are able to=20
communicate, every facility using EMR will be linked together,=94 said=20=

HIIAB Chair, Marc Droppert.

The recommendation follows a yearlong series of hearings on the subject=20=

of health information technology. A 42-member advisory committee of=20
technology experts, health care providers and
consumers assisted the 12-member Board in their research. The groups=20
were created under a bill passed by the Washington Legislature in 2005=20=

(SSB 5064).

The report includes a set of five recommendations designed to establish=20=

a competitive health record bank model. Several states have called for=20=

similar networks; however the Washington
proposal is the first to go beyond the concept stage to a=20
recommendation of specific platforms and formats for the proposed=20
network. Under the HIIAB recommendations, any data sharing of
patient records would strictly comply with federal privacy rules.

The report may be viewed on the Health Care Authority web site at=20
www.hca.wa.gov/hit.


Copyright =A9 2006 Washington State Health Care Authority