New Agreement Expands Regional HIE in the Great Lakes Area

The University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) and Great Lakes Health Information Exchange (GLHIE) have agreed to share patient information electronically across affiliated institutions in Michigan and Northern Ohio.

The agreement makes it possible for UMHS physicians to have real-time access to health and demographic information for non-UMHS patients in the GLHIE network of providers. Having the information readily available is important if the patient is unable to provide needed information about his or her health.

UMHS health care providers will be able to receive this data from multiple sources, such as hospitals, laboratories, radiology centers, long-term care facilities and urgent care centers.

The Great Lakes Health Information Network, 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 Capital Area Health Alliance and local physicians.

It is a sub-state HIE, and along with other sub-state HIEs in Michigan, it will eventually feed into the Michigan Health Information Network that will enable the exchange of patient data throughout the state. The broader vision for the future is that the Nationwide Health Information Network would connect all the state networks.

UMHS includes the U-M Hospitals & Health Centers, with its three hospitals and dozens of outpatient health centers and clinics throughout Michigan; the U-M Medical School with its Faculty Group Practice and research laboratories; the clinical operations of the U-M School of Nursing; shared administrative services; and the Michigan Health Corporation.