GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Patients and health care providers at hospitals in Port Huron, Hillsdale, Three Rivers and Southeast Michigan are now part of the state’s largest health information exchange, Michigan Health Connect (MHC).
The addition of Port Huron Hospital, Hillsdale Community Health Center, Three Rivers Health and Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills brings to 54 the number of Michigan hospitals using MHC to provide the secure, efficient electronic transfer of health records.
“The secure exchange of medical records ensures quality and cost control while improving the efficiency of health care providers across the state,” said Doug Dietzman, MHC executive director. “As members of Michigan Health Connect, community hospitals can offer their patients and physicians the same quantity and quality of medical information as the state’s largest hospitals.”
Dietzman noted that the addition of each new MHC member enhances the value for all.
“The number and geographic diversity of hospitals joining Michigan Health Connect reflect this organization’s momentum in the expanding market for health information exchange and our increasing value to members,” said Dietzman.
Grand Rapids-based Michigan Health Connect is leading the charge in Michigan to “wire” health care providers across the country, as a part of federal and state efforts to improve patient care and hold down spiraling costs. Major health systems across the state are members including Ascension Health, Genesys Health System, Spectrum Health, Beaumont Health System, McLaren Health Care and Trinity Health.
“By joining Michigan Health Connect, Port Huron Hospital can provide physicians treating the thousands of patients we see each year with the most complete medical record possible,” said John Liston, chief financial officer at Port Huron Hospital.
“Hillsdale Community Health Center is committed to building and strengthening relationships with our community providers and to that end we have chosen Michigan Health Connect to deliver lab and other results electronically to our local doctors,” said Steve Rausch, director of information technology at the health center. “This connectivity will add efficiencies to the patient care process.”
Dave Parks, IS director at Three Rivers Health, noted: “Our relationship with Michigan Health Connect will enable Three Rivers Health to more efficiently share results and other medical record data with our partners in Southwest Michigan and with the state of Michigan.”
Dr. Paul E. LaCasse, D.O., MPH, president and CEO of Botsford Health Care, said the partnership with MHC is a plus for patients beyond those treated at Botsford Hospital.
“The thousands of patients treated by the more than 600 physicians affiliated with Botsford will also benefit from the enhanced care this system provides,” LaCasse said.
Home health care provider Ensure Care, of Kalamazoo, also recently joined MHC. Home care is a rapidly growing industry and the electronic exchange of records gives medical professionals treating patients in home settings the ability to connect with other providers caring for home-bound patients.
Michigan Health Connect is the largest provider of health information exchange in Michigan, serving 54 hospitals, 1,027 medical offices and more than 3,500 individual providers statewide. The nationally recognized, community-based nonprofit works to enhance patient care by improving access to timely, secure clinical information while streamlining administrative functions for providers. For more information seewww.MichiganHealthConnect.
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