The State of Oregon has recently unveiled a statewide healthcare provider directory. The state says the ability for healthcare entities to use one trusted, single and complete source of provider data will improve efficiencies and care coordination
Until now, a single, accurate directory of healthcare providers has not existed in Oregon. Instead, healthcare organizations have used many different directories to look up providers and their clinic and network affiliations. These directories are isolated and exist within many state and non-state systems. The state noted that directories available today are limited in scope and data accuracy and are costly and difficult to maintain. They often are limited in their capability to tap into provider directories outside a provider’s coordinated care organization, clinic, or designated system.
The first six months of the Oregon Provider Directory (OPD)will be a soft launch period for a select group of participating organizations in Central Oregon. These users will ensure that the OPD meets their needs, including finding accurate contact information for other providers to coordinate care, as well as improving efficiencies around collecting and sharing provider data.
Participating organizations include Central Oregon Independent Practice Association (COIPA), PacificSource Health Plans, St. Charles Health System, Advantage Dental, and Mosaic Medical.
Currently, participants are in the process of onboarding to the OPD, which involves executing legal agreements, establishing access through OneHealthPort, and preparing to provide data to the OPD. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is in the process of evaluating additional data feeds that will improve the quality and completeness of data in the OPD. Once endorsed in soft launch, the OPD will be rolled out for broader use.
The HIT Commons, which is a public/private partnership between OHA and the Oregon Health Leadership Council, is helping with soft launch and planning subsequent phases.
The state expects that the provider directory will:
• Support coordinated care: Offers a complete one-stop option to find who, where, and how to contact other providers and care team members. Gives providers access to a rich source of accurate, complete data to find other providers (and their health information exchange addresses) for patient referrals and discharge planning.
• Increase efficiencies: Reduces duplication, as well as time and costs invested in managing and keeping the same provider information up to date in multiple directories.
• Improve security and privacy: Providers can have confidence that information they are relying on for patient care is correct.
• Enhance reporting capabilities: Using current and historical provider affiliations data can better enable reporting and monitoring of quality, performance and access to care.
The Office of Health Information Technology is working with Oregon’s coordinated care organizations (CCO) and stakeholders from across settings to define the uses and scope of the provider directory.
