Hutchinson Clinic and Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN) Exchange CCDs through ICA’s CareAlign® Exchange Platform Using XDS.b Protocols
<0> Dodge Communications for ICAJeff Nessler, 770-576-2573 </0>
and , a leading provider of interoperability technology that enables care coordination and health information exchange (HIE), announced today that , a large integrated delivery network (IDN) in the KHIN network, is now actively exchanging continuity of care documents (CCD) via XDS.b, an IHE-based integration protocol. Exchanging CCDs is a significant step in moving critical patient information throughout the HIE. XDS.b moves discreet data faster and more securely than other standards, ensuring that clinicians will be able to access patient data when and where they need it.
KHIN announced today that Hutchinson Clinic, using as its electronic health record (EHR) vendor, has successfully exchanged CCD documents into the KHIN HIE. Hutchinson Clinic has more than 70 physicians providing care in 16 locations across 11 different cities and covers more than 10,000 square miles in central Kansas. Cross-Enterprise Document Sharing (XDS.b) is a Microsoft Connected Health Platform Solution Accelerator based on the XDS.b integration profile. XDS.b facilitates the registration, distribution and access across health enterprises of patient electronic information in document format.
“Exchanging CCDs via XDS.b is another major milestone for the KHIN health information exchange,” said Laura McCrary Ed.D, Executive Director of KHIN. “The exchange of summary of care records (CCDs) between providers that are caring for the same patient can significantly improve patient care. XDS.b provides a technical framework that allows healthcare providers with different electronic medical record (EMR) systems to share health data within specific guidelines; enabling Kansas providers to establish a connected, collaborative, cost-effective and dependable health system. This landmark achievement is another step toward reducing costs and improving healthcare for the people of Kansas and we could not have accomplished this without the support and leadership from the Hutchinson Clinic.”
“Utilizing XDS.b to exchange patient data will prove to be a turning point in KHIN’s ability to improve patient outcomes. XDS.b’s ability to execute the transfer of large amounts of clinical data rapidly, accurately and securely has the potential to bring the clinicians and patients of this sizable region and network together in a way not previously seen,” said Gary Zegiestowsky, chief executive officer of ICA. “This standard will also allow us to connect to a large number of clinics at an accelerated pace by leveraging IHE standards and our state-of-the-art platform. XDS.b coupled with KHIN’s use of the CareAlign Direct messaging solution is already increasing efficiencies and improving care.”
KHIN’s mission is to improve health care quality, coordination and efficiency through the exchange of health information at the point of care utilizing a secure electronic network provided by a collaboration of health care organizations. KHIN is a provider led 501(c)3. It draws users from a broad geographical area and aligns with state data sources to support cost effective delivery of services. It supports and integrates with community and medical trading area efforts to drive care coordination and workflow changes creating a climate to encourage innovation. Its goals are to ensure providers, patients and communities have long-term access to cost effective, sustainable health information exchange aligned with costs distributed across a broad user base. It also encourages and removes barriers so communities and regions can focus on quality improvement, patient centered medical home and entrepreneurial strategies that effect local health outcomes.
Originating from clinical informatics solutions developed within Vanderbilt Medical Center, ICA’s state-of-the-art CareAlign® interoperability and informatics platform addresses and solves data and communication challenges for many healthcare entities, including hospitals, IPAs, IDNs, HIEs, payers and others. CareAlign delivers a flexible architecture to connect, collect, consume and intelligently distribute data through Direct, IHE, HL7, and custom methods for use in EHRs, third party applications, and ICA’s applications. CareAlign unites a wide range of information and supports analytic needs associated with population health management, transitions of care communication, re-admissions reduction, meaningful use requirements and PCMH/ACO operations. Visit , and follow us on , , , and