Missouri Ready to Debut its State HIE

Three delivery systems representing 40 percent of inpatient care in Missouri are among the first five organizations to sign up to use the state health information exchange, soon to be live.

The delivery systems are BJC Healthcare, Mercy and SSM Health Care. Also among the first participants are Burrell Behavioral Health and Nevada Medical Clinic, a rural multi-specialty practice. The state HIE, called the Missouri Health Connection, in June selected the HealthShare application of InterSystems Corp. as its core HIE platform.

The HIE will go live in two steps, starting with use of the Direct Protocol secure messaging standards in early October. The HIE expects during the first quarter of 2013 to roll out a full suite of services, says Mary Kasal, president and CEO of Missouri Health Connection. Functions include document query, continuity of care document, discharge summaries, patient histories, and referral management, among others.

For more information, visit missourihealthconnect.org.