DENVER, April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CORHIO, the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization, announced today that Banner Health and Poudre Valley Health System have signed agreements to share patient data through its Health Information Exchange (HIE). In addition to the hospitals affiliated with the two health systems, five medical practices in northern Colorado have also signed agreements to participate in CORHIO's HIE.

The CORHIO HIE is a secure network that links physicians and other medical care providers throughout Colorado and provides access to patient information, including lab test and pathology results, x-ray, MRI and other imaging reports, and physician transcription reports. Later this summer, the network is scheduled to include patient medication lists, allergies and immunizations.

By participating in HIE, health care providers have more comprehensive patient information at their fingertips that is used to improve quality of care, eliminate costly, redundant testing and reduce treatment delays and hassles for patients related to paper medical records and reports.  In emergency situations, such as a heart attack or car accident, fast and easy access to information from the HIE can be life-saving.

Poudre Valley Health System (PVHS) operates two hospitals in northern Colorado, Poudre Valley Hospital and the Medical Center of the Rockies.  Both will join the CORHIO HIE.

"Working with other healthcare providers demonstrates our unwavering commitment to quality care and patient safety," said PVHS CEO Rulon Stacey. "Patients come first at Poudre Valley Health System, and we're confident that health information exchange will provide yet another innovative way for PVHS to care for northern Colorado."

Banner Health's four hospitals in northern Colorado will also join the CORHIO HIE, including East Morgan County Hospital, McKee Medical Center, North Colorado Medical Center and Sterling Regional Medical Center.

"As the largest health care system in northern Colorado, Banner Health is proud to have its Colorado hospitals participate with CORHIO," said Dr. Sheldon Stadnyk, Banner Health's western regional medical officer. "This will benefit patients by allowing hospitals and physicians across the state to access the information they need to provide the most appropriate care."

With the addition of PVHS and Banner Health, there are now 11 organizations in northern Colorado beginning the process to connect to the HIE, including Dr. Daniel B. Jinich in Fort Collins, Front Range Center for Brain & Spine Surgery in Fort Collins, Miramont Family Medicine in Fort Collins, Wellington and Red Feather Lakes, Northern Colorado Pain Management in Greeley and Urology Center of the Rockies in Fort Collins.

"By collaborating on health information exchange, Poudre Valley Health System and Banner Health are demonstrating their strong commitment to patients and the communities in northern Colorado.  Joining them are several primary care and specialty practices — they are coming together to enhance health care quality across all patient care settings," said CORHIO's Executive Director Phyllis Albritton.  "We expect many other health care providers to join them in the following months."

About CORHIO

CORHIO is dedicated to improving health care quality for all Coloradans through health information exchange (HIE). As the state designated entity for HIE, CORHIO collaborates with health care stakeholders including physicians, hospitals, clinics, public health, long-term care, laboratories, health plans and patients to improve care collaboration through secure systems and processes for sharing clinical information. CO-REC, a CORHIO initiative, assists primary care providers in adopting, implementing and becoming meaningful users of electronic health record (EHR) systems. CORHIO is a not-for-profit supported in large part by grants, including awards from the Colorado Health Foundation and from federal ARRA HITECH funds.  CORHIO's technical infrastructure is built on industry-leading HIE technology developed and maintained by Medicity.  For more information about CORHIO, please visit www.corhio.org.

SOURCE CORHIO