Citizens
In West Virginia today, as in most of the rest of the United States, patient medical data is largely stored and transmitted on paper. When compared to other industries, such as banking, this seems antiquated and cumbersome - and it is. The West Virginia Health Information Network (WVHIN) will enable electronic exchange of patient information so care providers have access to important patient information at the point of care. This could mean that your cardiologist could get your health records from your primary care physician electronically, for example. Additionally, if you are traveling and have a medical emergency, the treating physician can access your records via computer.
Imagine that you are sick while on vacation in another state and you need medical care immediately. Your physician can electronically send your medical file to another physician or to the emergency department so that the treating physician will be able to securely access your health information in a timely manner.
Ultimately, the WVHIN will enable your care providers to have more complete, up-to-date information about you and you will not have to remember what medications you are taking, the date of your last immunizations, the names of other providers you have seen, and other important information that your treating provider needs to know in order to choose a treatment plan that is best suited for your needs.
Benefits to Citizens for Participating in the WVHIN
- Reduced co-pays for duplicate testing and treatment of medical errors
- Receive improved quality of care due to improved care coordination
- Reduced canceled appointments due to results and reports not being received by physicians
- Access to a Personal Health Record (PHR) will allow you to become an active participant in your own care in a more personalized way, giving you greater insight and control regarding information that is generated about you
- Reduced wait time for lab and radiology results due to faster transmission among providers
- Medication refill reminders
- Provider access to critical information (i.e. your allergies, medications you're currently taking, your blood type, etc.) during emergencies
Citizen Resources
- Learn more about electronic health records (EHR) and health information exchange (HIE) through these educational videos.