The Medical Center of Southeast Texas Expands Regional Health Information Network
Houston, Texas (PRWEB) September 18, 2013 -- Greater Houston Healthconnect (HEALTHCONNECT) announced today that the Medical Center of Southeast Texas (TMCSET) has joined the regional health information network to ensure patient records can be easily and quickly transferred to other providers for transitions of care. Matt Roberts, CEO of the 224 bed hospital explained, “By participating in this regional network we can ensure that our patients’ health histories can follow them should they require care outside of Port Arthur. Likewise, our physicians will be able to access the same data once their patients return."
The Medical Center of Southeast Texas’ decision reflects a growing trend toward interconnectivity among non-affiliated healthcare institutions. According to the Office of the National Coordinator, which has provided initial funding to spawn healthcare IT interoperability, 30% of the nation’s hospitals now participate in regional health information networks. The degree of hospital participation in the Beaumont- Port Arthur metropolitan area is unprecedented in Texas. Patients from this area have an unprecedented level of access as this entire region has come together collaboratively to make this happen. With the addition of TMCSET, patient care summaries will be available to participating providers for 96% of the discharges in the greater Golden Triangle area. In addition to patient care summaries, the Healthconnect network will forward prior lab test results, imaging studies and medication histories to the physicians of consenting patients.
Healthconnect Board member, Michael Jhin, who is a community volunteer and CEO Emeritus of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System, noted the importance of this robust connectivity for patient health and patient care, “As a community we have been working for several years to develop a network that could support measurable gains in the quality of care each institution and their medical staff can provide. By offering more complete information about their patients within minutes, significant advances in the delivery and management of care can be achieved. All patients, especially those with pre-existing conditions, will receive better care and will not be subjected to unnecessary tests they have already received.”
The Medical Center of SE Texas has joined Baptist Hospitals of SE Texas, CHRISTUS Health’s St. Elizabeth’s and St. Mary’s hospitals and Legacy Community Health Services, which co-hosted a joint press conference earlier this year to announce their participation in the network. TMCSET sees over 7600 inpatients per year.
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About Greater Houston Healthconnect
Greater Houston Healthconnect is an independent, community-based organization responsible for enabling information exchange among healthcare providers in a 20-county region. It is tasked with mobilizing healthcare information electronically across organizations to enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of care and improve information access throughout the region. Key stakeholders include healthcare providers, payers, employers and the community as a whole. For more information, visit http://www.ghhconnect.org/.
About The Medical Center of Southeast Texas
The Medical Center of Southeast Texas is a 224-bed hospital providing a full range of hospital services to Port Arthur and the surrounding communities. The hospital is part of IASIS Healthcare® LLC, a leading owner and operator of hospitals with facilities in Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas and Utah. The Medical Center of Southeast Texas is directly or indirectly owned by an entity that proudly includes physician owners, including certain members of the hospital’s medical staff.
Robin Mansur, Greater Houston Healthconnect, http://ghhconnect.org, 832-564-2599, [email protected]
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