Wisconsin Health Information Exchange gives EDs needed information

REDMOND, Wash., and MILWAUKEE — June 16, 2010 — The Wisconsin Health Information Exchange (WHIE) is providing emergency department and clinic-based physicians and other authorized clinicians patient history, aiding optimal decision-making at time and place of care. The WHIE uses Microsoft Amalga Unified Intelligence System (UIS) to aggregate and present a unified view of patient medical history data at the time and point of care.

The results of the WHIE’s “Emergency Department (ED) Linking Project” reflect the early success of one of the nation’s leading efforts to improve healthcare through a regional electronic health information exchange, as well as the success of private and public partnerships in making a positive impact in healthcare.

According to preliminary results from a recent survey conducted by the Medical College of Wisconsin, ED clinicians using WHIE report a positive impact that results from gaining a more comprehensive perspective of patient information. ED clinicians completed the surveys for all patients in a given time period at the initial three pilot sites of WHIE. Responding physicians indicated that use of WHIE reduced the amount of time spent gathering information about patients, as well as reducing the time to disposition decision in majority of cases.

Emergency medicine physicians using the WHIE solution reported a reduction of redundant testing, avoided invasive procedures and achieved greater efficiency in identifying patients requiring ongoing ambulatory care. In addition, engagement of ED case managers in using WHIE enhanced efforts in establishing care relationships with local clinics.