A health information exchange in northern Virginia is piloting a service that allows ED physicians to obtain prescription drug histories on patients, regardless of where in the U.S. a prescription is written.
The Northern Virginia Regional Health Information Organization (NovaRHIO) launched the pilot in April at Inova Alexandria Hospital. The service converts Surescripts medication histories--which include pharmacy point of sale and PBM data--into a Continuity of Care Document format and interfaces the CCD with Picis ED PulseCheck, the EHR used in the Inova Alexandria ED, according to J.P. Auffret, vice chair of NovaRHIO.
NovaRHIO consists of Northern Virginia hospitals, physicians, business leaders, local governments, healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups and universities--including George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College.
The regional HIE, which is working with Virginia's government to build a statewide network, plans to offer its prescription drug history service for EDs to other hospitals and health systems, as well. Eventually, NovaRHIO will broaden the service to include lab and radiology results, allergy, and patient admissions/discharge information, and will offer access to non-ED physicians and patients.
Partially funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the initiative involves several organizations besides NovaRHIO: Inova Health System; GE Healthcare, which provided its HIE infrastructure and connectivity to data sources; Picis, which enhanced its product for direct importation of the drug histories; and Audacious Inquiry, a project manager.
To learn more:
- read the press release
- see Surescripts' 2010 progress report