Consumer FAQs 

1.  What is the WVHIN and what does it mean to me?
2.  How does the WVHIN work?
3.  What kind of medical information can my doctors see through the WVHIN?
4.  How do I know if the process surrounding the exchange of my medical information is safe and secure?
5.  Is the WVHIN exchanging information today?
6.  Are there other networks like the WVHIN in existence?  Is this a national effort?

1.  What is the WVHIN and what does it mean to me?

Most likely your doctor, hospital or healthcare provider shares your paper health record by copying your record then mailing, faxing, or even hand delivering it to the desired location. These methods of sharing your medical information take time and may place burdens upon you and your providers. However, when your providers use an Electronic Health Record (EHR), they can send and receive (or exchange) your health information in a matter of minutes over a secure Internet connection via the WVHIN.

Consider these questions:

• Do you see more than one healthcare provider?
• Do you dislike having to repeat your information over and over again each time visit a doctor?
• Can you remember all the medications you are (and have been) taking?
• Can you remember the date of your last vaccination? 
• Can you remember the date of your last surgery? 
• Have you ever had to have a test repeated or appointment delayed because the information was not available in a timely manner?
• What if you are on vacation and have an accident?

Becoming a participant in the WVHIN helps you and your healthcare provider by:

• Making your medical history available in case of an emergency
• Not having to reschedule an appointment or schedule an extra appointment because your health information was not available when and where it was needed
• Not having to repeat blood work or other tests and procedures when you see new doctors or specialists
• Saving the cost associated with unnecessary appointments and repeated tests and procedures 
• Informing your doctors about your medications, allergies or other important medical history, even when you forget 
• Preventing unwanted side effects when medications prescribed by different health care providers don't work well together 
• Saving time you and your providers spend calling about needed information or having it faxed or sent by mail 
• Making it easier for you and your healthcare providers to coordinate your care

2. How does the WVHIN work?

Authorized healthcare providers who participate in the WVHIN can view your medical information electronically from other healthcare providers involved in your care. Here are two examples of how the WVHIN may work:

1. An elderly man has multiple doctor appointments throughout the year with his neurologist, primary care doctor and cardiologist. If these three providers are connected to the WVHIN and the elderly man has allowed his medical information to be exchanged via the WVHIN, each doctor can easily access his full medical history in a matter of minutes, without having to request paper copies of his medical records.

Suppose the elderly man forgets to tell his neurologist that his cardiologist recently prescribed him Coumadin, a blood thinner. As a participant in the WVHIN, his neurologist already knew the man was prescribed Coumadin and knew to avoid medical procedures that might lead to excessive bleeding. Because the elderly man allows his clinical information to be exchanged via the WVHIN he also benefits from not having to retell his medical history to his doctors each time he sees them.

2. A woman is in a car wreck and is alive but unconscious. She is rushed to the closest hospital’s emergency department which is connected to the WVHIN. If this woman is a participant in the WVHIN, the treating doctor in the emergency department could quickly log-on to the WVHIN and access critical life-saving information they may need to treat the woman. The WVHIN enables the doctor to view medications she takes and her medication allergies, recent medical procedures she’s had as well as test results, any past major medical problems, etc. This kind of information could play a critical role in woman’s treatment options and could potentially save her life.

3.  What kind of medical information can my doctors see through the WVHIN?

Your doctors will be able to access important clinical information on you so they can make better decisions concerning how to best treat you. Examples of clinical information that can be accessed through the WVHIN include: results from your blood work, medications you have taken and are currently taking, past diagnoses and surgeries, any allergies you may have, radiology reports and much more.

4.  How do I know if the process surrounding the exchange of my medical information is safe and secure?

At the WVHIN, privacy and security of your information is of utmost importance. Unlike paper health record storage methods, the WVHIN is built to only allow authorized providers to view your information on a “need to know” basis. For example, your doctor may have access to all your clinical information while an intake nurse many only have access to certain parts of your clinical information in order to adequately perform his or her job duties. Additionally, the WVHIN can audit and keep track of who accesses or changes your clinical data. WVHIN’s system is also designed to meet all State and Federal laws regarding the protection of your health information; WVHIN’s system complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH).

5.  Is the WVHIN exchanging information today?

No. WVHIN is in the process of building the technical infrastructure for the electronic exchange of your clinical information. The WVHIN plans to exchange the clinical information of patients among hospitals and providers in the northern part of West Virginia by mid-2011. Please continue to check our website for more details on how you can become a participant in the WVHIN.

6.  Are there other networks like the WVHIN in existence?  Is this a national effort?

Yes, there are other health information exchange networks in existence throughout the country. However, the WVHIN is the only organization in the State of West Virginia that is working to establish West Virginia’s statewide health information exchange network. This is a national effort and the Federal government is providing incentive payments to providers throughout the country who use Electronic Health Records (EHR) and participate in health information exchange networks.