March 21, 2018

Electronic health records now can be securely shared between organizations, enhancing care for patients across mid-Missouri

Patients who receive care at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and at members of the Tiger Institute Health Alliance Health Information Exchange (HIE) now can benefit from streamlined information sharing across organizations.

The Tiger Institute Health Alliance HIE — which includes University of Missouri Health Care, Capital Region Medical Center and other Missouri hospitals, clinics and post-acute care providers — is a member of the Sequoia Project eHealth Exchange. The Sequoia Project is a national health information exchange that encourages health care interoperability. The exchange enables physicians at different organizations to electronically share and use up-to-date patient medical records. Because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, also is a member of the Sequoia Project eHealth Exchange, information now can be securely shared between the organizations.

“The Tiger Institute Health Alliance is an important tool for patient care in Missouri, and this connection with our partners at the VA reinforces our commitment to our patients,” said Jonathan Curtright, chief executive officer of MU Health Care and chair of the Tiger Institute Health Alliance board. “This collaboration allows health care providers to securely access patient health information when it’s needed most to provide optimal care.”

“Truman VA and MU Health Care have a long-standing relationship that allows us to work together to provide patient care, educate future clinicians and conduct leading-edge research,” said David Isaacks, director of Truman VA. “The ability to securely share clinical information with MU and other member providers enables all of us to obtain a more complete view of the health history of our patients. As a result, we can make faster and better care decisions, avoid duplicating expensive tests, and ensure that patients receive the best care possible.”

“This health exchange connection is an important collaboration because it not only connects us to the VA hospital across the street, but also to VA hospitals and clinics across the country,” said Stevan Whitt, MD, chief medical officer of MU Health Care. “Caring for our nation’s veterans is a privilege, and we can now see a history of the care they’ve received. This helps us provide the most appropriate, safe and streamlined care.”