Utah rolls out first statewide health information exchange, seeking patient consent

SALT LAKE CITY — Doctors from all four major hospital networks in the state of Utah stood together Thursday in a show of support for better patient care.

They announced a statewide implementation of shared medical information — a first anywhere west of the Rocky Mountains — through the new Clinical Health Information Exchange (cHIE). Physicians from Intermountain Healthcare, MountainStar, IASIS and the University of Utah Health Care systems are already collecting waivers from patients across the state, and when enough have signed up to participate, the sharing of information will begin.

"We are setting aside the competitive differences and focusing on working together to bring this information, with patient permission, to the doctor at the bedside as they deliver care," said Mark Bennett, chairman of the Utah Health Information Network's board of directors and president of HealthInsight.

He said that before long, the whole community will see the benefits of the program, in increased safety, reduced medical costs and less waiting time for pertinent medical information.

"Every time I go to a new doctor, they ask what medications I'm taking and I have no idea. I don't even know how to pronounce them all," said type 2 diabetes patient David Cuddy. After losing two of his toes to amputation and experiencing a loss of feeling in his right hand, Cuddy's primary care doctor recommended he see a neurologist.

His physician's office sent an electronic copy of his medical history to the various specialists, but somehow the lines crossed and Cuddy, 59, ended up taking a paper copy of the records to his appointment. Fortunately, only one test — an X-ray — had to be repeated, but Dr. Sarah Woolsey said the repetition could have been avoided had his information been readily accessible to doctors.

"We've drawn umpteen vials of blood from David's arm. He doesn't need to do that anymore," Woolsey, a family practitioner at the Stephen D. Ratcliffe Community Health Center in Rose Park, said. "Then there is the potential for misdiagnosis, the possibility of increased radiation — and no one needs any more radiation, and the cost and time spent repeating unnecessary tests and procedures."

Not to mention peace of mind that can come with knowing your bases are covered, she said.

"People want the medical system to be efficient and accurate, and sometimes we are running blind. This will level the playing field and benefit patients," Woolsey said. "It always helps to know what is going on."