Integrated Health Information Exchange (HIE)
More complete information for better care & better outcomes
The Network provides integrated health information exchange (HIE) which allows Network participants to access to both physical and behavioral health information. By providing integrated information, The Network helps community providers deliver better care and better outcomes by having more complete longitudinal or historical information about their patients. Community providers, including behavioral health providers, pay no provider participation fees for accessing and sharing information in The Network.
Three Types of Patient Information
The Network includes three types of patient health information: physical health information, general behavioral health information, and information about substance abuse treatment.
Real-Time, Actionable Data
The Network provides actionable data for all participants in The Network:
- ADTs – hospital admissions, discharges and transfers
- Ambulatory Encounters – ambulatory registrations and encounter summaries
- Lab & Radiology Results – results from lab tests and radiology studies
- Discharge Medications – lists of patient discharge medications
- Transcribed Reports – a variety of transcribed reports
Protecting Patient Rights
When providers participate in The Network, they are required to provide each patient The Network’s Notice of Health Information Practices. This notice informs patients of their rights regarding sharing their health information through The Network, including their right to opt out of having their information available through The Network. If a patient opts out, no information – physical health information, general mental health information and information about substance abuse treatment – may be accessed through The Network, even in an emergency.
Patients can change their mind and opt back in by informing their provider of their choice.
Information about substance abuse treatment has special protection under federal law (called the “Part 2 regulations” because the regulations are found at 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Access to information covered by the Part 2 regulations is available if the patient consents to the provider access or if there is an emergency.
In addition to the Notice of Health Information Practices, The Network provides a consent form that permits providers to access substance abuse treatment information and a form to record a patient’s choice to opt-out or to change that decision later. These documents and forms are available, along with instructions are available in the Patient Rights Process Toolkit.