CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and KAMUELA, Hawaii, March 29 /PRNewswire/ — Big Island physicians have been among the nation’s leading adopters of health information technology. Over ninety percent of independent physicians in Kamuela regularly use an electronic health record. Technologically advanced as these practices are within their four walls, however, they can realize substantial patient safety, cost management, consumer satisfaction, and efficiency benefits from community wide care coordination enabled by health information exchange. The newly formed North Hawaii Health Information Exchange (NHHIE) has partnered with Wellogic to do just that.
The NHHIE is a collaborative effort involving the North Hawaii Community Hospital, the Hawaii Independent Physicians Association, independent physicians and their staff, and integrates the region’s leading payors, laboratories, imaging centers, pharmacies, and other trading partners. The NHHIE will utilize Wellogic’s provider and consumer portals and the Wellogic Health Information Exchange (HIE) to enable better management of transitions in care and tackle deep problems caused by gaps in care. The effort will adopt many aspects of accountable care and patient centered medical home management models. A key goal is, over time, to dramatically align the incentives of participating organizations and consumers.
John White, North Hawaii Community Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. William Park, Chief of Staff and General Surgeon, believe the project will establish a scalable model that can be replicated across the state and nation. “This is a grassroots effort to make available, for the first time, a wealth of clinical information to patients and their physicians at the point of care. Leveraging information technology to connect all the Big Island physicians, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, and insurance companies is essential to this effort,” said Bill Park. According to White, “Wellogic is a technology partner who brings experience and energy to this project. We hope to demonstrate that a united community with the right partners can improve the quality and safety of patient care in a measurable and significant way.”
“As a practicing emergency room physician and Big Island Senator, I am convinced that the addition of Wellogic’s health information exchange and health record system to North Hawaii and other medical practices across Hawaii will have a profoundly positive impact for the care of our people,” said Senator Josh Green, Hawaii State Senator and Hawaii IPA Director. “As the healthcare system rapidly evolves, we will be leaning heavily on innovators like Mr. Nagpal to contribute ideas which will allow us to get everyone affordable, quality healthcare in a practical and cost effective manner.”
