January, Little Rock, Arkansas  2025           In an era where healthcare data accessibility and quality measures drive better patient outcomes, SHARE Health Information Exchange (HIE) has taken a significant step forward by integrating with Modernizing Medicine’s EMA EMR platform. This integration marks a milestone for Arkansas Dermatology, enabling seamless data exchange, improved clinical workflows, and enhanced Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) metrics compliance.

Challenge: Arkansas Dermatology, a leading provider of dermatologic care in the state, faced interoperability challenges that limited real-time access to patient health records from various healthcare providers. With dermatology often requiring coordinated care with primary care physicians, oncologists, and other specialists, the absence of a comprehensive data-sharing solution hindered efficiency and care coordination. Additionally, the practice sought to optimize its performance in MIPS reporting to maximize Medicare reimbursements and improve quality of care.

Solution: To address these challenges, Arkansas Dermatology partnered with SHARE HIE to integrate its Modernizing Medicine EMA EMR platform. This collaboration enabled:

• Real-time Data Exchange: Dermatologists can now access critical patient information, including medication histories, lab results, and prior diagnoses, ensuring informed decision-making at the point of care.
• Streamlined Workflow Efficiency: Clinicians can retrieve hospital discharge summaries and specialty referrals from SHARE HIE, reducing administrative burdens and improving productivity.
• Enhanced MIPS Reporting: The integration supports automated data submission for MIPS quality measures, helping Arkansas Dermatology meet compliance requirements, improve patient outcomes, and optimize Medicare reimbursements.
• Improved Care Coordination: With seamless interoperability, dermatologists can collaborate more effectively with referring providers, ensuring continuity of care for patients with complex skin conditions, autoimmune disorders, and skin cancers.

Impact: Since implementing the integration, Arkansas Dermatology has reported significant improvements in both operational efficiency and patient care outcomes. The ability to access comprehensive patient histories through SHARE HIE has:

• Reduced duplicate testing and unnecessary procedures,
• Decreased administrative time spent on record retrieval,
• Improved documentation accuracy for MIPS reporting, and
• Enhanced overall patient experience through more personalized and timely care.

“The integration of SHARE HIE with our EMA EMR platform has been a game-changer for our practice. It has streamlined our workflows, improved patient data accessibility, and made MIPS reporting much more efficient. This partnership has truly enhanced our ability to provide high-quality care while optimizing our billing and compliance processes.” – Kemmie Thomas, CPC, Billing Manager, Arkansas Dermatology

The successful integration of SHARE HIE with Modernizing Medicine EMA EMR is a game-changer for Arkansas Dermatology. By leveraging a robust HIE network, the practice has achieved a new level of interoperability, streamlined MIPS compliance, and improved patient-centered care. This success story highlights the transformative power of health information exchange in advancing dermatology practice efficiency and quality outcomes across Arkansas.

About Arkansas Dermatology:

Arkansas Dermatology is a leading provider of comprehensive skin care, offering expert diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of dermatological conditions. With multiple locations across the state, their experienced team of board-certified dermatologists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners is dedicated to delivering personalized, high-quality care. Whether addressing skin cancer concerns, treating chronic skin conditions, or providing cosmetic dermatology services, Arkansas Dermatology prioritizes patient well-being with a commitment to excellence. Their state-of-the-art facilities and advanced treatment options ensure that every patient receives the best possible care in a welcoming and professional environment. Arkansas Dermatology has 11 convenient locations to better serve Arkansas.

Learn more: https://www.arkansasdermatology.com

 January, Little Rock, Arkansas  2025          Fort Smith ER & Hospital has taken a significant step toward improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes by integrating with the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange (SHARE), Arkansas’ statewide health information exchange (HIE). This collaboration reflects the hospital’s dedication to enhancing interoperability and fostering seamless care coordination across the healthcare continuum.

Through SHARE HIE, Fort Smith ER & Hospital now has real-time access to comprehensive patient health records, ensuring clinicians have the critical information they need at the point of care. This includes medical histories, lab results, imaging, medications, and known allergies, allowing for more informed decision-making and reducing the likelihood of redundant tests or errors.

The integration has transformed care coordination by facilitating secure information sharing between the hospital, primary care physicians, specialists, and other healthcare providers involved in a patient’s care journey. One of the most impactful features is SHARE HIE’s automatic notifications to a patient’s primary care provider (PCP) upon hospital discharge. This ensures that PCPs are promptly informed, allowing for timely follow-up care and reducing the risk of readmissions.

“Integrating with SHARE HIE has been a game-changer for our clinical teams. Having immediate access to a patient’s full medical history and ensuring their primary care provider is notified upon discharge allows us to provide more coordinated and effective care. This level of connectivity helps us improve patient outcomes and deliver the kind of seamless care our community deserves.” said Crystal Restine, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Fort Smith ER & Hospital

By embracing health information exchange, Fort Smith ER & Hospital not only optimizes internal workflows but also strengthens its role in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to the community. This successful integration underscores the hospital’s leadership in leveraging technology to create better health outcomes and more efficient healthcare services.

About Fort Smith ER & Hospital:

Get In, Get Out, Get Well!  Fort Smith ER & Hospital is a part of Nutex Health (NASDAQ: NUTX), bringing communities accessible, concierge-level care they can trust. Their founding partners practiced in traditional emergency rooms for years before deciding to branch out and create a better, more comprehensive emergency care experience. Emergency medical care that’s close, convenient, and fast shouldn’t be a luxury reserved only for the rich or those who live in cities. Their facility provides the residents of Sebastian County, and its surrounding communities, including Crawford County, Logan County, Scott County, LeFlore County, and Sequoyah County, the emergency care they deserve by ER physicians with combined decades of experience and top-notch support and technical staff.

Learn more: https://fortsmithhospital.com/services/

December, Little Rock, Arkansas     The Arkansas Regional Organ Recovery Agency (ARORA) is at the forefront of saving lives through organ and tissue donation. With daily access to SHARE, Arkansas’s statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE), ARORA has transformed its workflows, creating a streamlined, efficient process that enhances the quality and timeliness of care for patients awaiting life-saving transplants.

Streamlined Processes with Real-Time Data Access

ARORA staff leverage SHARE HIE daily to obtain real-time clinical results on potential organ, tissue, and eye donors. By accessing SHARE’s Virtual Health Record (VHR), ARORA can quickly review comprehensive medical histories, lab results, and current diagnoses, which are crucial for assessing donor eligibility and ensuring compatibility with recipients. This instantaneous access eliminates lengthy back-and-forth communications with individual hospitals and specialists, saving valuable time and resources, and accelerating decision-making in critical, time-sensitive situations.

Enhanced Coordination Across Providers

With access to SHARE, ARORA collaborates seamlessly with hospitals, surgical teams, and transplant centers throughout Arkansas. When a donor is identified, SHARE enables quick and secure information sharing with all necessary medical professionals, ensuring everyone involved has the latest clinical data. This cohesive flow of information allows ARORA to ensure that organ recoveries and transplant procedures proceed smoothly, minimizing delays and enhancing the safety and efficiency of the process.

“By leveraging SHARE HIE, we’ve significantly enhanced our coordination with healthcare providers,” adds Amelia Nabholz, Director of Hospital Development at ARORA. “This seamless information flow ensures that every potential donor’s gift is honored efficiently and respectfully, providing comfort to donor families and hope to recipients.”

“Our collaboration with SHARE HIE has been transformative,” says Jeremy Lemmons, Manager of Hospital Development at ARORA. “The real-time access to comprehensive patient data enables us to make swift, informed decisions, ultimately saving more lives through timely organ and tissue donations.”

Improved Outcomes for Recipients and Donors’ Families

Thanks to streamlined processes and real-time data access through SHARE HIE, ARORA has seen significant improvements in the overall success rates of transplants. Faster access to critical information enables better matching of organs with recipients who are in optimal condition to receive them, improving the chances of successful transplantation and long-term health outcomes. Moreover, ARORA can offer reassurance to donors’ families that the process is conducted with the utmost care and professionalism, honoring their loved ones’ wishes in a meaningful way.

Through its access to SHARE HIE, ARORA has not only improved operational efficiency but also elevated the quality of life for organ recipients across Arkansas. By streamlining processes and ensuring timely, accurate data access, ARORA showcases the transformative impact of health information exchange in life-saving medical care.

About ARORA: What They Do and Why

ARORA is a team of nurses, physicians, medical technicians, social workers and administrators orchestrating the amazing medical miracle of the recovery of organs, tissue and eyes for transplantation.

For hundreds of organ transplant recipients each year, ARORA is a bridge to new life. For thousands of tissue transplant recipients every year, ARORA is an agent of restored sight, mobility, ability and freedom from pain. And for families of thousands of organ and tissue donors, ARORA is an agent of healing and meaning.

Learn More: https://arora.org/

 Little Rock, Arkansas    At the Office of Health Information Technology, SHARE HIE, we are deeply thankful for the partnerships and participation of our partners. Together, we’ve reached significant milestones, advancing healthcare connectivity and improving outcomes across Arkansas.

This year, we successfully integrated with 5 new hospitals and 300+ new facilities, bringing our total connected network to 118 hospitals, 3,447 facilities contributing data to SHARE, and 941 facilities actively retrieving data from SHARE. These achievements underscore our shared commitment to seamless interoperability and patient-centered care. In addition to these efforts, we’ve supported many hospitals and clinics during EMR transitions, providing SHARE as a utility to maintain seamless data exchange.

• Statewide Public Health Support: We’ve assisted hospitals and clinics across Arkansas with electronic case reporting (eCR) reporting, as well as streamlining data flow to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) for immunizations, electronic lab reporting (ELR), and syndromic surveillance. These efforts strengthen public health initiatives and ensure timely, accurate data sharing to support the health and well-being of Arkansans.
• Enhanced Alerts for Providers: SHARE HIE facilitates real-time alerts on Division of Children and Family Services, foster care custody changes, ensuring timely and informed interventions for at-risk children.
• WIC Program Assistance: Working with Arkansas Medicaid in identifying eligible individuals, SHARE supports the WIC program in connecting families to essential services.
• 21st Century Cures Act Compliance: We continue to assist hospitals statewide in meeting ADT notification requirements, enabling efficient communication with providers, ACOs, and CINs.
• Data Centralization for ACOs and CINs: SHARE HIE plays a pivotal role in connecting ACO and CIN networks, centralizing data flow to advance value-based care initiative while reducing interfaces.

• Behavioral Health and DD/IDD Integration: Our network now includes over 350 behavioral health and DD/IDD facilities, fostering a more comprehensive continuum of care.
• Health Plan HEDIS Success: SHARE HIE supported some payer partners in passing HbA1c HEDIS audits, highlighting the power of accessible clinical data in meeting quality measures.
• Diabetes Management: We distributed HbA1c reports statewide for the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Primary Care First Program (PCF), equipping providers to manage diabetes care more effectively.
• Trauma Notifications: SHARE ensures real-time ADT notifications for TBI patients across Arkansas, delivering critical updates to care teams.
• Support for MIPS and MACRA: SHARE assists providers statewide in meeting MIPS and MACRA requirements, ensuring compliance and improving performance in value-based payment programs.
• Health Plan Integration: SHARE HIE onboarded 2 new health plans this year, expanding our collaboration in improving member care.
• Streamlining Data for Health Plans: We are working closely with health plans, including AR Medicaid and all four PASSEs, to streamline data flow and enhance care coordination for their members.

These accomplishments reflect the strength of our partnerships and a shared vision for improving healthcare. To all our partners and participants—thank you for your dedication and trust. Together, we continue to lead the way in health information exchange aggregator and health data utility, making a lasting impact on the lives of Arkansans.

With gratitude,

Happy Thanksgiving from the Office of Health Information Technology, SHARE HIE

Little Rock, Arkansas, 

Civitan Services, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, has significantly enhanced its operational efficiency and client care through integration with SHARE HIE (State Health Alliance for Records Exchange). This collaboration allows Civitan Services to access real-time clinical data, receive emergency department (ED) and inpatient (IP) notifications, and streamline workflows, ultimately improving the quality of care for their clients.

Enhanced Workflow and Real-Time Data Access: By integrating with SHARE HIE, Civitan Services can now access up-to-date hospitalizations and clinical results for their clients. This real-time data access is crucial for making informed decisions and providing timely interventions. For example, if a client is admitted to the hospital, the staff at Civitan Services receives immediate notifications, enabling them to coordinate care seamlessly and ensure continuity in their support services.

Programs and Services: Civitan Services offers comprehensive programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities across three primary service areas:

1. Preschool Services:
   • Focuses on helping children reach their full potential in all areas of development to prepare them for public school.
   • Emphasizes both academic and social education, with individualized instruction and therapies tailored to each child’s needs.
   • The integration with SHARE HIE allows for a thorough understanding of each child’s health status, ensuring that any medical conditions are considered during the development of their educational and therapeutic plans.

Adult Services:

1. • Aims to train and support adults with developmental disabilities toward greater independence using a person-first approach.
   • Offers classes taught by experienced professionals and utilizes the deTaso EMR to track and monitor individual progress.
   • Provides meals, transportation, and on-campus therapy services.
   • With SHARE HIE, the staff can monitor clients’ health metrics and adjust their training and support strategies, accordingly, fostering a more responsive and effective program.

Community Services:

1. • Assists clients in achieving their personal visions of a successful life within the community.
   • Includes Group Home placements that offer a healthy, safe, and family-oriented environment, as well as planned activities to encourage social interaction.
   • Offers Supported Employment opportunities, allowing clients to work independently within the community.
   • Provides case management services to support clients in various aspects of their lives.
   • The integration with SHARE HIE enhances these services by ensuring that case managers have immediate access to vital health information, enabling them to provide better-informed support and advocacy.

“Integrating with SHARE HIE has significantly enhanced our workflow and provided us with real-time data access to hospitalizations and clinical results for our clients. This capability is crucial for making informed decisions and providing timely interventions. For example, when a client was admitted to the hospital, our staff received immediate notifications, allowing us to coordinate care seamlessly and ensure continuity in our support services. This integration is transforming the way we deliver care, ensuring our clients always receive the best possible support.” said Leah Henderson – Chief Executive Officer – Civitan Services

The integration of Civitan Services with SHARE HIE represents a significant advancement in the care and support of individuals with developmental disabilities. Real-time access to clinical data and hospitalization notifications has not only streamlined workflows but also improved the responsiveness and effectiveness of the services provided. This collaboration underscores the importance of technology in enhancing care coordination and outcomes for vulnerable populations.

About Civitan Services

They provide quality individualized training and support for children and adults with developmental disabilities to help them maximize their potential.

The goal of Civitan Services is to help their clients maximize their potential for independence, and realize accomplishment, personal dignity, and success in their lives. Their entire existence is the result of the belief that every individual, regardless of their disability, has choices, goals, and dreams. Civitan Services is empowering these individuals to realize their dreams and achieve what they want most out of life.

Learn more: https://www.civitanservices.com

 

                                                                                

Little Rock, Arkansas, September 2024 – In a groundbreaking collaboration, the UAMS College of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Clinical Informatics Fellowship and the Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT) have formed a dynamic partnership, launching a transformative rotation with the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange (SHARE) HIE. This month-long rotation is designed to immerse clinical informatics fellows in the practical and theoretical aspects of Health Information Exchange (HIE), enhancing their expertise and shaping the future of healthcare informatics.

Bridging the Gap: Clinical Informatics and HIE

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) defines Clinical Informatics as a subspecialty that transforms healthcare through the innovative use of information and communication systems. Physicians in this field navigate the complex landscape of healthcare IT, leveraging their knowledge to improve patient care, enhance access, and optimize health outcomes. The partnership with the SHARE HIE provides a unique opportunity for fellows to delve into the real-world applications of these principles.

“Through our partnership with SHARE HIE, the UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship and OHIT are pioneering a transformative approach to healthcare informatics. This collaboration immerses fellows in the practical and theoretical realms of Health Information Exchange, equipping them to navigate healthcare’s digital landscape with precision and compassion. By bridging the gap between clinical informatics and HIE, we’re not only enhancing care coordination and patient outcomes but also setting a new standard for healthcare training and innovation.” said “Pele” Yu, Jr., M.D., MSPH, MSHI, FAMIA, Program Director and Professor of Pediatrics, Biomedical Informatics, and Public Health at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Introduction to HIE and SHARE HIE

The rotation begins with an in-depth introduction to HIE, covering its definition, purpose, and significance in healthcare. Fellows are given a tour of the facility and a comprehensive overview of SHARE HIE, Arkansas’s only statewide health information exchange. They explore the role of HIE in improving care coordination, interoperability, and population health management.

Technical Deep Dive: In the subsequent weeks, fellows focus on the technical components of HIE. They analyze HIE architecture, health information organizations (HIOs), and health information networks (HINs). Participation in SHARE operational meetings with hospitals, clinics, and payors provides insights into data exchange standards like HL7, CDA, CCD, and FHIR.

Legal and Ethical Frameworks: Understanding the legal and ethical considerations of HIE is crucial for clinical informaticians. In the third week, fellows explore the regulatory landscape, including HIPAA and the HITECH Act. They discuss consent management, data sharing, patient autonomy, confidentiality, tackling privacy and security challenges to develop strategies ensuring data integrity.

Implementation and Future Trends: The final week focuses on HIE implementation models—centralized, federated, and hybrid—and strategies for successful adoption and change management. Fellows examine governance, sustainability, and emerging trends such as health data utilities (HDU’s), artificial intelligence (AI), national exchange networks, and patient-generated health data. They conclude the rotation by designing a roadmap for implementing HIE in a hypothetical healthcare organization.

“Empowering healthcare leaders through innovation is our mission. At SHARE, we’re dedicated to fostering seamless data exchange, enhancing patient privacy, and driving transformative healthcare outcomes for a better Arkansas. The collaboration with UAMS is a monumental step in educating our current and future clinicians on health information exchange and interoperability. ” Said Justin Villines, MBA, BSM, HIT Policy Director, Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology, SHARE HIE – Fellowship Rotation Director

 

Impact and Future Prospects

This innovative rotation enhances fellows’ expertise in clinical informatics and strengthens the clinician-patient relationship by improving information flow and care coordination. Understanding HIE complexities and challenges equips fellows to lead initiatives that enhance healthcare quality and access. The partnership between UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship, OHIT, and SHARE HIE sets a new standard for training in healthcare informatics. It exemplifies how collaborative efforts can drive advancements in health information technology, benefiting patients, healthcare providers, and the broader healthcare system.

As these clinical informatics fellows transition into leadership roles, their experiences and insights from this rotation will be instrumental in shaping the future of healthcare informatics and improving patient outcomes across Arkansas and beyond.

About UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship Training Program:

The UAMS Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) is home to the UAMS Clinical Informatics Fellowship Training Program, which provides state-of-the-art training and broad informatics experience for physicians pursuing advanced medical subspecialty training in applied Clinical Informatics.

Their two-year program is ACGME-accredited. Eligible applicants have successfully completed an accredited residency program in a primary medical specialty (i.e., pediatrics, internal medicine, etc.). There are two training sites for the program: Arkansas Children’s Hospital and UAMS Medical Center. The fellow stationed at each site may also perform clinical duties at that location amounting to up to 20% of their time.  Clinical informaticians are physicians, health information technology (IT) professionals, and – above all – leaders. They bridge the gap between the transformative potential of technology and the knowledge needed to apply health IT in the clinical setting.

Learn more: https://medicine.uams.edu/dbmi/clinical-informatics-fellowship

 

                         

Little Rock, Arkansas    

SHARE HIE and Chi Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates- ARcare have forged a powerful partnership, seamlessly integrating ARcare’s Greenway EMR to enhance the quality of care for patients across Arkansas. This collaboration is particularly impactful in ARcare’s rheumatology clinics, where comprehensive care for rheumatic diseases and autoimmune conditions is provided.

ARcare’s specialized rheumatology division is dedicated to ensuring that high-quality care is accessible to everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. With (10) strategically located clinics across Arkansas, ARcare brings exceptional care closer to patients, offering them convenience and accessibility.

Each of these clinics is equipped with infusion therapy chairs, allowing patients to receive necessary treatments on-site during their appointments. This service is vital for managing rheumatologic conditions, providing therapies that help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.

The network of ARcare rheumatology clinics includes:

• Fayetteville

• Farmington

• Hot Springs

• Huntsville

• Little Rock

• Lowell

• Mountain Home

• North Little Rock

• Russellville

• Southside

“By integrating ARcare’s Greenway EMR with SHARE HIE, we’re equipping Arkansas providers with the tools they need to deliver exceptional Rheumatology and Arthritis care statewide. This seamless access to patient information enhances our specialists’ ability to provide timely and effective treatment, ensuring that patients across the state receive the highest standard of care.” — Anne Santifer, HIT Director, Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Health Information Technology, SHARE HIE

A team of 10 skilled providers, including three board-certified MDs—Dr. Charles Mills, Dr. Roy “Chap” Sampson, and Dr. Jasen Chi—along with seven highly trained APRNs, ensures that patients receive top-notch care. The APRNs, who have undergone extensive training under the guidance of ARcare’s MDs, include Jill Bodiford, Adrienne McCutcheon, Alisha Hightower, Tamra Cox, Colt McDaniels, Julia Clift, and Shelby Hansen.

 The integration of ARcare’s Greenway EMR with SHARE HIE allows for seamless data exchange, ensuring that patient information is always up-to-date and accessible to the entire care team. This integration supports ARcare’s mission to provide advanced treatment options and comprehensive care, enhancing patient outcomes across the state. The collaboration between SHARE HIE and ARcare is a testament to the power of connectivity in healthcare, driving better care coordination and improved patient experiences.

                                                           

Little Rock Arkansas     Empower Healthcare Solutions has recently completed its HEDIS MY2023 review, demonstrating noteworthy improvements in several key performance areas. A significant element in this success has been the collaboration with the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange (SHARE).

SHARE’s robust Health Information Exchange (HIE) capabilities allowed Empower Healthcare Solutions to enhance its data aggregation efforts, leading to an impressive increase in medical record retrieval accuracy from 95.62 percent in MY2022 to 96.95 percent in MY2023. This improvement, enhanced by SHARE, underscores the importance of accurate and timely data in the healthcare sector, particularly in meeting stringent HEDIS measures.

By incorporating supplementary A1c lab data into HEDIS reporting, SHARE provided Empower Healthcare Solutions with the necessary data to excel in the critical area of diabetes management. This integration not only improved data accuracy but also positioned Empower Healthcare Solutions quality reporting to excel.

Empower Healthcare Solutions’ achievements, as reflected in their strong performance across various HEDIS measures, highlighting the value of using SHARE for accessing vital health information. The ability to track and report on critical health outcomes with precision has enabled Empower Healthcare Solutions to better serve its members, ensuring higher satisfaction and engagement rates.

In summary, SHARE’s contribution to Empower Healthcare Solutions’ HEDIS success exemplifies the importance of comprehensive data exchange in healthcare. As Empower Healthcare Solutions continues to prioritize high-quality care, SHARE remains a key partner in supporting these efforts through seamless data integration and enhanced healthcare outcomes.

Empower Healthcare Solutions is one of the PASSE (Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity) organizations in Arkansas. The PASSE program is a managed care model developed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) to serve individuals who need services for developmental disabilities or behavioral health.

Empower Healthcare Solutions PASSE coordinates care for its members by bringing together a network of providers, including primary care physicians, behavioral health professionals, and other specialists. The goal is to improve the quality of care, enhance the member experience, and control costs by focusing on care coordination, outcomes, and preventive services.

As a PASSE, Empower Healthcare Solutions manages the physical, behavioral, and developmental health needs of its members, ensuring they receive the appropriate level of care and services. This model is designed to improve overall health outcomes while also reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits, thereby offering more comprehensive and integrated care for those with significant behavioral health and intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD).

Empower Healthcare Solutions partners with various healthcare providers and organizations, including SHARE HIE, to enhance the data and care coordination necessary to meet rigorous health outcome measures.  Visit https://getempowerhealth.com/

Empower Healthcare Solutions Mission

They help people to lead fuller, healthier lives at home and in their neighborhoods. Keeping the patient/member at the center, they work with others to deliver a better life.

Read Empower Healthcare Solutions Provider Connections Article here:  https://getempowerhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024provider-relations-newsletter-Fall2024.pdf 

Little Rock, Arkansas            In today’s healthcare landscape, the integration of behavioral health clinics and hospitals with Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) such as SHARE (State Health Alliance for Records Exchange) is pivotal. This integration facilitates a more comprehensive, coordinated, and efficient healthcare system. Behavioral health (BH) clinics, hospitals, and primary care providers often deal with overlapping patient populations. Their integration with HIEs can significantly enhance patient outcomes, care coordination, and overall healthcare quality. This document explores the critical reasons behind the importance of this integration.

Enhanced Patient Care and Outcomes

1. Comprehensive Patient Records: Integration ensures that clinicians in both behavioral health clinics and hospitals have access to a patient’s complete medical history, including mental health, social needs or social determinants of health (SDOH), and physical health information. This comprehensive view allows for more accurate diagnoses, effective treatment plans, and timely interventions.
2. Improved Treatment Coordination: By sharing patient information through SHARE HIE, behavioral health providers, hospitals, and primary care physicians can coordinate treatment plans more effectively. This reduces the risk of duplicated tests and conflicting treatments, leading to more cohesive and holistic patient care.
3. Timely Access to Critical Information: In emergency situations, hospitals can quickly access a patient’s behavioral health records to provide appropriate care. Conversely, behavioral health clinics can access hospital records to understand recent medical events that may impact a patient’s mental health.

Reduction in Healthcare Costs

1. Elimination of Redundant Tests and Procedures: With integrated access to patient records, healthcare providers can avoid unnecessary repeat tests and procedures, thus reducing overall healthcare costs. This is particularly important for patients with chronic conditions that require frequent monitoring and treatment.
2. Efficient Resource Utilization: Integrated systems allow for better resource management within healthcare facilities. Hospitals can ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, possibly reducing the length of hospital stays and preventing unnecessary readmissions.

Compliance and Reporting

1. Regulatory Compliance: Integrating with SHARE HIE helps clinics and hospitals meet various regulatory requirements, such as those outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act, which mandates improved interoperability and patient access to health information.
2. Quality Reporting: HIEs facilitate the collection of data necessary for quality reporting and performance metrics. This can enhance the ability of healthcare providers to participate in value-based care models and improve their standing in payer, ACO and CIN networks.

Improved Patient Engagement

1. Patient Empowerment: When patients know that their healthcare providers are collaborating and sharing information, they feel more in control and confident in their care. This can lead to increased patient engagement, adherence to treatment plans, and overall satisfaction with the healthcare system.
2. Personalized Care: Access to comprehensive data allows providers to tailor their care to the specific needs of each patient, taking into account their entire medical and behavioral health history.

Case Study: Kids for the Future, Arisa Health and Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas

The integration of Kids for the Future, Arisa Health and Behavioral Health Services of Arkansas with SHARE HIE serves as a prime example of the benefits discussed. By connecting to SHARE HIE, these behavioral health providers have enhanced their ability to coordinate care with primary care providers, hospitals, and other specialists involved in their patients’ care. This has led to improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital readmissions, and more efficient use of healthcare resources.

Conclusion

The integration of behavioral health clinics and hospitals with SHARE HIE represents a transformative advancement in healthcare delivery. By bridging gaps between different sectors of healthcare, this integration enhances patient care and outcomes through comprehensive and coordinated treatment plans. It significantly reduces healthcare costs by eliminating redundant tests and procedures and ensures compliance with ever-evolving regulatory standards. Moreover, it fosters improved patient engagement by empowering individuals with more personalized and cohesive care.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve towards integrated and patient-centered models, the role of HIEs like SHARE will become increasingly crucial. These systems not only facilitate better communication and collaboration among healthcare providers but also support the overall goal of delivering higher-quality, more efficient, and patient-focused care. The successful integration of behavioral health clinics and hospitals with SHARE HIE serves as a model for other regions and healthcare systems aiming to enhance their services and patient outcomes through advanced interoperability and data sharing.

Little Rock, Arkansas                  Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS) has become a trailblazer in the State of Arkansas by becoming the first Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider to integrate their Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system with the State Health Alliance for Records Exchange (SHARE) Health Information Exchange (HIE). This pioneering move involves the integration of MEMS’s ESO EHR system with SHARE HIE, marking a significant advancement in healthcare interoperability and setting a benchmark for other EMS providers in the state.

Pioneering Integration

MEMS’s decision to integrate their ESO EHR with SHARE HIE demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to improving patient care and streamlining communication across various healthcare providers. This integration ensures that critical patient information collected by MEMS during emergency responses is seamlessly and securely shared with hospitals, clinics, primary care providers (PCPs), behavioral health (BH) providers, and other members of the patient care team in real-time.

Enhancing Continuity of Care

The integration of MEMS’s ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR) with SHARE HIE brings numerous benefits, including:

1. Improved Patient Outcomes: By providing healthcare providers with immediate access to up-to-date emergency medical data, clinicians can make more informed decisions, leading to better patient outcomes. For instance, having access to vital information such as medications administered, vital signs, and patient history during an EMS transport can be crucial during the initial treatment phases in the emergency department (ED).
2. Streamlined Workflows: The seamless exchange of data reduces the need for redundant data entry and minimizes the risk of errors. This integration allows for a more efficient workflow as healthcare providers can quickly access and review the EMS reports within their own EHR systems.
3. Enhanced Communication: The real-time sharing of information ensures that all members of the patient care team are on the same page, facilitating better coordination and communication among EMS, ED, and other healthcare providers. This is particularly beneficial in critical and time-sensitive situations.

A Model for Others

The successful integration of MEMS’s ESO EHR with SHARE HIE sets a precedent for other EMS providers in Arkansas and beyond. By demonstrating the tangible benefits of interoperability, MEMS serves as a model for other EMS organizations aiming to enhance their service delivery and patient care using advanced health information technology.

“Integrating our ESO EHR with SHARE HIE represents a significant milestone for MEMS and the broader healthcare community in Arkansas. This integration ensures that our emergency medical services are seamlessly connected with hospitals and other healthcare providers, enabling us to deliver the highest quality of care to our patients. We are proud to lead the way in this important initiative and are confident that it will serve as a model for others to enhance interoperability and patient outcomes across the state.”– Greg Thompson, Executive Director of Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS)

A Unified Vision for Better Healthcare

The collaboration between MEMS and SHARE HIE underscores the commitment to a unified vision for better healthcare in Arkansas. By breaking down data silos and fostering a more connected healthcare ecosystem, this integration paves the way for a future where comprehensive patient information is readily accessible, leading to more coordinated and effective care.

Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services’ integration with SHARE HIE is a landmark achievement in the quest for improved healthcare interoperability in Arkansas. This forward-thinking initiative not only enhances the quality and efficiency of emergency medical care but also serves as an inspiration for other EMS providers to follow suit. As MEMS continues to lead the way, the benefits of this integration will undoubtedly ripple across the entire healthcare continuum, ultimately resulting in better health outcomes for patients statewide.

About Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (MEMS):  MEMS is a public, non-profit entity, and is governed by the Little Rock Ambulance Authority (LRAA). Serving Pulaski and Grant Counties, the cities of Maumelle, Sherwood & Cabot. MEMS covers approximately 1,800 square miles and over 400,000 people.
Since 2004, MEMS has been accredited with the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) which signifies a “Gold Standard” in emergency medical service providers. Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services is committed to providing high-quality on-scene, pre-hospital, and transport care to the residents and visitors in the MEMS service area, all while improving the quality of life in our communities.

Learn more: https://www.metroems.org