The Tiger Institute Health Alliance recently joined in partnership with the Lewis And Clark Information Exchange (LACIE) to create an expanded network of patient data sharing across Missouri and Kansas. Cerner Corporation, a global health care technology company and strategic partner of the University of Missouri’s Tiger Institute, provides the solution that powers both the LACIE and Tiger Institute Health Alliance platforms, allowing for an easy flow of information across disparate systems. This curated patient data can help nurses and physicians access their patient’s most up-to-date health information.

Patients who receive care in Columbia, Jefferson City, Lake of the Ozarks, Hannibal, Sedalia, and other member communities of the Tiger Institute Health Alliance Health Information Exchange (HIE) can now benefit from streamlined care that is better coordinated across multiple providers and health systems in the region. The interoperability of patient medical history and records are critical during the current pandemic when patients may need to be treated in another city and care history and COVID-19 test results need to be easily accessible to nurses and physicians.

“Tiger Institute and LACIE have enjoyed a long history of collaboration and trust that has allowed us to establish this unique relationship,” said Michael Seda, senior director of regional operations for the Tiger Institute, a public-private partnership between the University of Missouri and Cerner Corporation. “It will benefit patients across the region and improve our ability to meet the rapidly evolving HIE needs of our members and partners.”

“Seamless access to a patient’s medical records from across the care continuum is not only critical in providing the most efficient and highest quality care possible but also an expectation from our patients,” said Tom Selva, MD, medical director of the Tiger Institute and chief medical information officer for MU Health Care. “This new partnership elevates the coordination of care across premier tertiary providers such as MU Health Care, KU Medical Center, Children’s Mercy, and Truman Medical Centers and community hospitals and providers.”

LACIE, a multi-state health information exchange with more than 30 member systems throughout Missouri and Kansas, enables physicians at different organizations to securely and electronically share and use the most recent patient medical records. Under the new partnership, The Tiger Institute Health Alliance now provides technology and support services for LACIE, providing a deeper collaboration among the two networks to more efficiently support the health needs of patients across Missouri and Kansas.

“LACIE is excited to embark with the Tiger Institute Health Alliance to bring economies of scale and operating efficiencies while maintaining attractive price points to all of our participants,” Mike Dittemore, RN, executive director of LACIE, said.

The new consolidated HIE broadens the access and betters care coordination. For patients, this means their medical records will be more readily available at a larger number of care venues, especially those in more rural areas who are often referred to specialists in Columbia or Kansas City for tertiary care. With more providers connected to the same network, it’s less likely that a patient will have to transfer their records or receive care from providers unfamiliar with their medical history. Shared access to health records can give providers the latest medical history and information to help inform a patient’s treatment and care decisions and foster stronger collaboration between other medical professionals throughout the region.

Cerner’s work with patient data helps turn the information into insights for clinicians, increasing interoperability, usability and rapid technology development for the betterment of the health care industry and patients. Especially amidst a global pandemic, providing intelligent predictive insights and shifting from what’s happening now to what’s going to happen next is important.

“Tiger-LACIE collaboration helps improve patient care across Missouri and Kansas,” said Kashif Rathore, vice president of Interoperability, Cerner. “The interoperability between these two organizations can help providers drive more efficient and effective care for patients. No matter the system or care venue, patients in the network will be able to access their health information through a more seamless experience between providers.”

“LACIE is focused on providing robust connections between participants that allow providers to have the data they need, when they need it to develop treatment plans with their patients,” said Greg Ator, MD, chief medical information officer for the University of Kansas Healthcare System and chair of the LACIE Board of Directors. “We believe the enhanced agreement with the Tiger Institute will allow LACIE to continue and improve upon this mission for years to come.”