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Arkansas Urology is now Fully Integrated with Arkansas Statewide Health Information Exchange, SHARE

Arkansas, June 2022

Specialist, such as Arkansas Urology increasingly need to know when their patients receive hospital-based services, including emergency room care. Awareness allows providers to arrange for appropriate follow-up care based on each patient’s individual needs.  By Arkansas Urology now connected to AR State Health Alliance for Records Exchange, known as SHARE, now everyone in the patients’ clinical chain of command has assess to updated demographics, medications, allergies, vitals, procedures, conditions, and progress notes to include continuity of care documents (CCDs) from all of Arkansas Urology locations.

Health Information Exchange (HIE) is the transmission of health-related data among medical facilities, providers, and patients electronically. In stark contrast to traditional paper records faxed to primary care providers, electronic HIE enables health care providers and professionals, from doctors and nurses to pharmacists and specialists, to access and share critical medical information digitally properly and securely.

Arkansas Urology is now querying SHARE through their Athena EMR to seek and find specific health information about their patient from whatever appropriate clinical sources are available. Providers most commonly use this form of HIE to deliver unplanned care, such as in an emergency situation and critical updates from the primary care provider.

For example:

  • An emergency-room physician may need to request x-ray information, current medications or problem lists for a patient unfamiliar to him or her.
  • A Urologist may request updated bladder cancer clinical data from the hospital or primary care provider for a woman who has bladder cancer.

The fact that health information exchange is a growing practice among health care providers shows a clear recognition of its pressing need and invaluable benefits. These benefits of HIE are vast, encompassing the patient, provider, and health care system alike. Digital health information systems help ensure every person participating in a patient’s care, be they a primary-care practitioner, specialist, or emergency-room physician, is working from the same information. This helps to prevent costly and potentially dangerous errors, thereby cutting costs and improving health outcomes. If this modality saves even one life, it has proven it’s benefit.

“Having this connection with the HIE is invaluable for our patients and our facilities. Connecting to SHARE also allows us to meet Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) measures and requirements while improving patient care”, said Tami Croy, Director of Clinic Operations

About Arkansas Urology:

With locations across the state, Arkansas Urology provides the latest innovations in medical technology and surgical techniques to patients through its Centers of Excellence in urological specialties. The physicians and professional staff comprise one of the most experienced and respected urological practices in the country. Arkansas Urology treats approximately 110,000 patients a year in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Benton, Conway, El Dorado, Heber Springs, Harrison, Monticello, Pine Bluff, Stuttgart, Russellville, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Jonesboro. Arkansas Urology is made up of 19 physicians, more than 21 advanced practice providers, and more than 300 clinical and business staff employees.

Learn more about Arkansas Urology: https://arkansasurology.com