By Oklahoma Families for Affordable Health Care Executive Director Julie McKone
Many of our friends and advocates may have read recently about health information exchanges (HIE), and the state of Oklahoma’s work to bolster HIE infrastructure in order to deliver better and more affordable care. As was said in 2020 when it announced the project, successfully implemented HIEs “improve patient safety by reducing medication and medical errors, prevent the duplication of tests and redundant collection of information from the patient, as well as improve public health reporting.”
As both an advocate for more affordable care and a consumer, I had a lot of questions about HIE: how does it work? What’s the benefit to individual patients and the health care system at-large? And how can we guarantee that patient data is secure?
To answer these questions, I spoke with Dr. David Kendrick, the President and CEO of MyHealth Access Network, the state’s designated entity selected to provide HIE. In addition to his role at MyHealth, Dr. Kendrick is a practicing physician and the chair of the University of Oklahoma’s Department of Medical Informatics.
Below you’ll find what I learned about health information exchanges, as well as video clips of the most relevant parts of our conversation.
What is a Health Information Exchange (HIE)?
Health Information Exchange is both a verb and a noun, as Dr. Kendrick eloquently puts it. The verb involves the action of securely exchanging health data with other providers involved in coordinating a patient’s care. This is the expected standard of care now and was even when medical records were tracked only in paper form. The noun, Health Information Exchange, refers to an organization dedicated to exchanging healthcare data through modern, more secure electronic means.
Why is that important? Sharing data allows medical providers to coordinate care by accessing a comprehensive medical history, including current medications, procedures undergone, and diagnosed medical issues. This practice reduces duplicative testing, facilitates faster decision-making, and minimizes dangerous medical errors. Consider, for instance, an elderly patient who may not recall their current medications. If that patient arrived at an emergency room, the doctors would have access to that information, ensuring they do not administer medication that might interact with the patient's current prescriptions.
HIEs also allow the State to quickly respond to public health emergencies. At the height of COVID, for instance, MyHealth played an important role in identifying and containing outbreaks.
As Dr. Kendrick related, “sharing” is one part of the HIE equation; “security” is the other. HIEs like MyHealth ensure that connecting providers undergo thorough vetting, possess proper credentials, and honor patient consent.
What is a Health Information Exchange (HIE)?
What is MyHealth Access Network and why was it created?
Established in 2009, MyHealth Access Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Health Information Exchange created and governed by a collaboration of healthcare providers, agencies, and patients in Oklahoma. The inception of MyHealth Access Network was a response to the pressing issues within Oklahoma's healthcare system, which consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation. As the healthcare industry shifted to digital records, patients' information became scattered across various locations, resulting in a rise in miscommunications and lapses in care.
MyHealth was founded with a vision to facilitate the seamless and secure transmission of healthcare data from one location to another. Dr. Kendrick emphasizes that the HIE plays a crucial role in improving health outcomes for both patients and providers. For patients, it ensures that their medical records are available wherever they seek care, facilitating better coordination, reducing the risk of errors, and reducing delays in treatment. Providers benefit from streamlined access to comprehensive patient histories, enabling them to make more informed decisions and provide more effective, cost-efficient care. Redundant paperwork becomes unnecessary, reducing administrative burdens on both patients and healthcare providers.
What is MyHealth Access Network?
How do HIEs reduce health care costs?
As Dr. Kendrick explained, HIEs save money for patients – and the health care system at-large – by preventing duplicative testing and visits, avoiding errors, and assisting in the management of chronic diseases.
Dr. Kendrick clarified that patients incur no direct costs in participating in MyHealth Access Network, which is funded by the healthcare system—payers, agencies, and providers who recognize its importance to improving health outcomes and reducing costs. The network, strategically designed to enhance healthcare delivery, has proven efficient, boasting a remarkable 19% reduction in duplicate lab testing, reductions in readmissions, and total costs of care across several evaluations, translating to savings in co-pays and time.
How do HIEs reduce health care costs?
How is the state of Oklahoma partnering with MyHealth?
The state of Oklahoma has strategically partnered with MyHealth Access Network to address the coordination challenges and inefficiencies within its healthcare system. Recognizing the success and impact of MyHealth Access Network, the state designated it as the entity responsible for operating and overseeing the statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE). This decision also enables Oklahoma to leverage federal funding to enhance this important healthcare infrastructure and establish a more connected system.
The primary objective of the statewide HIE is to ensure that every patient has their complete health record available to their trusted providers whenever and wherever needed for decisions about their care. This patient-centric approach enhances care coordination, reduces the risk of errors, and empowers patients to actively participate in their healthcare decisions. MyHealth Access Network plays a crucial role in supporting public health reporting, particularly in critical situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Kendrick emphasizes that, according to Oklahoma state law, the state government cannot function as the HIE itself to ensure the security and protection of patient data from government systems. Instead, it designates MyHealth Access Network, with its 14-year track record of secure health data exchange, as the entity for this purpose. This decision reflects the network's reliability, efficiency, and commitment to improving healthcare outcomes in Oklahoma.
How is the state of Oklahoma partnering with MyHealth?
How does MyHealth protect patient privacy?
MyHealth has robust measures in place to safeguard patient privacy, aligning with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). While strictly following HIPAA's guidelines, MyHealth's privacy protocols go even further, demonstrating a commitment to protecting patient information in accordance with Oklahoma state law, and policies approved by all participating healthcare organizations. Notably, MyHealth does not accept, or exchange psychotherapy notes and substance abuse treatment data protected by state and federal laws from disclosure.
To comprehensively address privacy concerns in the mental health space, MyHealth Access Network has implemented an opt-in mechanism specifically for mental health records. Patients are required to provide explicit consent by signing a document authorizing their healthcare providers to exchange mental health information with the network. This additional layer of consent reinforces the network's commitment to safeguarding sensitive health data.
It’s important to note that participation in the MyHealth network is entirely voluntary for both patients and providers. MyHealth offers a simple and straightforward opt-out process for anyone who wishes not to participate. Patients can express their preference during a provider visit or use the MyHealth online platform to download, verify, and submit an opt-out form. Healthcare providers can easily request an exemption by expressing their need.
How does MyHealth protect patient privacy?
What do Oklahomans think about HIE?
Since I sat down with Dr. Kendrick for this interview, OKFAHC commissioned a healthcare poll that was conducted by Cygnal in January of 2024. We asked Oklahomans their opinions on the state's Health Information Exchange. Sixty-six percent of voters agreed that sharing medical records through a secure Health Information Exchange is a way to deliver better care, avoid medical errors, and save money by reducing duplicative testing. Just 22% express concerns about jeopardizing patient privacy and confidentiality. Oklahomans clearly understand the value offered by HIEs like MyHealth.
In conclusion, my time with Dr. Kendrick was reassuring, challenging my preconceived notions about Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). Dr. Kendrick underscored the critical role MyHealth plays in improving patient care across Oklahoma by seamlessly facilitating the exchange of health care data, ensuring that patients receive better, more coordinated care. Looking ahead, the network remains steadfast in its commitment to shaping a safely and securely connected healthcare future for Oklahoma.
As we navigate the complex healthcare landscape for ourselves and our families
and loved ones, organizations like MyHealth are paving the way for a future where patient-centered, community-driven initiatives shape the way we approach well-being. To learn more about MyHealth Access Network, visit https://myhealthaccess.net/.