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Among other things the healthcare system seems to need is a standardized system of electronic record keeping. It so happens Delaware has developed one.
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The first state to sign the U.S. Constitution is also the first to drag its sharing of medical information into the new century. The Delaware Health Information Network, a collaboration between government, medical practices, hospitals and the insurance industry, allows for efficient and private transfer of medical information among those who need it most.
That means healthcare providers, specialists and technicians can dramatically cut the time it takes to access forms, films, lab results and other documents. And that’s good news for everyone.
DHIN basically acts as a post office for healthcare and insurance professionals, allowing them to share vital information about patient treatments, insurance coverage and medical benefit payments, says Gina Perez, executive director of DHIN.
And much like the post office, DHIN ensures privacy by serving as the conduit for information. Medical and insurance records are still maintained by physicians’ practices, hospitals and insurance companies, but once those records have been digitized and transmitted through DHIN, they become instantly accessible to anyone who needs them. Access is controlled at every turn to ensure privacy, in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act.
Easy sharing provides many benefits, Perez says. Not only does it save doctors valuable time in accessing reports, but the format of the reports is uniform, thus reducing mistakes made due to variations in forms or other paperwork. Improved accuracy and reduced paper use means reduced costs for everyone—patients included—because there will be fewer instances of repeated tests, unnecessary medications or unnecessarily extended hospitalizations.
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