Vale-U-Health RHIO

What is the Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization (VUH RHIO)?

Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization (VUH RHIO) manages a Health Information Exchange (HIE) which allows your hospital, doctors and other health care providers to share your electronic personal health information (ePHI) with each other in a secure, timely manner through their computer. This health information could include reports about your illnesses, injuries, allergies, medications and test results.

What is a Health Information Exchange (HIE)?

An electronic health information exchange (HIE) allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care providers to access and share the information in your electronic health record (EHR) in each of your provider’s offices. With your permission, important information from your providers’ electronic health records (EHR) are stored in the health information exchange (HIE) in addition to your provider’s practice. Authorized health care professionals can then access important information in your electronic health record (EHR) for reasons related to your care and treatment through the health information exchange (HIE).

What can an HIE do for me?

Participating in the health information exchange (HIE) – that is, agreeing to share your health information with your healthcare providers – offers major benefits to you and your family.

Benefits include:

Emergency Treatment

Physicians can immediately know about your allergies, health problems, medications and prior visits, helping them care for you without delay.

More Complete and Accurate Information

The health information exchange (HIE) gives your care providers greater access to your health. Providers will know more about you and your health history before they recommend treatment.

Improved Care

Access to information about care you received elsewhere gives a better, more complete picture of your health and provides information needed to provide quality care. That means your care providers can make sure the treatment they give doesn’t interact with other treatments you may be receiving. For example, when you can’t remember what medications you are taking, the health information exchange (HIE) can make information about your conditions and medications available to your doctors so they will know the right treatment to provide.

Risks Include:

Incorrect Information

The health information exchange (HIE) is a tool to improve care. Just like a paper health record, incorrect information remains in the electronic health record (EHR) until it is corrected. However, computerized information can provide checks and balances that paper health records cannot, such as the ability to now compare the medication lists from multiple sources.

Incomplete Information

Only electronic health records (EHRs) from connected practices will be available through the health information exchange (HIE). If you have a different provider that is not connected, the information from that practice may not be in the health information exchange (HIE). This will lead to incomplete information in the health information exchange (HIE).

How secure is the HIE?

Special security features are used to keep your information secure and prevent your records from being accessed by anyone who is not authorized. Even with all these security protections in place, if a breach does occur through the health information exchange (HIE), the law requires that you are notified and that Vale- U-Health Regional Health Information Organization (VUH RHIO) and your participating provider take steps to correct the problem.

How will my information be used?

Electronic personal health information (ePHI) obtained through the health information exchange (HIE) will be used in the same way it is currently used for treatment, payment and operations only. Policies that follow federal and state law limit how your information can be used or disclosed through the health information exchange (HIE). The HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices from your health care provider explains in detail how and why your information is used.

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)?

Your provider already uses an electronic health record (EHR) system. The electronic health record (EHR) system allows your provider to store your medical information electronically in an electronic health record (EHR). An electronic health record (EHR) contains everything that would be included in your paper chart. Like paper charts, your electronic health record (EHR) is only visible by the provider who created it. An electronic health record (EHR) may contain one or more of the following: diagnoses, procedures, family history, social history, insurance information, medications, labs and test results.

There is also data classified as “sensitive” that may be included in your electronic health record (EHR). This would include alcohol or drug abuse problems, HIV/ AIDS, mental health conditions, sexually transmitted diseases, genetic (inherited) diseases or tests.

Can I access my own medical records?

With the health information exchange (HIE), your records are only available to participating health care providers (for example, your doctor).

Once opted-in, you have a right to see your electronic health record (EHR), who has viewed your information, and when it was accessed. For this disclosure, ask your participating provider or call the Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization (VUH RHIO) at 724-379-4011, option 5.

Who can access my records?

Only the health care professionals who are treating you and their staff involved in your care who are given access to the health information exchange (HIE) can access your records through the servers. For a current list of providers taking part in the health information exchange (HIE), click here.

How do I participate?

Participation is simple. All you need to do is complete the opt-in form provided upon check in. This form is also available online, click here.

Other “Connected” HIEs

Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization (VUH RHIO) will also be creating secure connections to health care providers who participate in other health information exchanges (HIEs), community-based, state-run and federal. For example, if you are treated by two doctors – one in the Vale-UHealth Regional Health Information Organization health information exchange (VUH RHIO HIE) and another health information exchange (HIE) – your two doctors could share your medical information through a secure computer connection. Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization (VUH RHIO) will not connect to another health information exchange (HIE) unless it meets Monongahela Valley Hospital’s (MVH’s) and Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization’s (VUH RHIO’s) high standards for privacy and security. You can learn more about Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization’s (VUH RHIO’s) connections to other health information exchanges (HIEs) by clicking here.

I still have questions. Who do I contact?

If you have additional questions regarding the health information exchange (HIE) that are were not covered, please ask your participating provider, or call the Vale-U-Health Regional Health Information Organization (VUH RHIO) at 724-379-4011, option 5.

What if I don’t want to participate in the HIE?

If you do not want your health information in the health information exchange (HIE) you do not need to do anything. Your electronic personal health information (ePHI) is only shared with your consent by completion of the opt-in form. You can find the opt-in form by clicking here, or at any participating provider. If you are currently participating, you can opt-out at any time. You simply need to complete the opt-out form located here or at any participating provider. Once you submit this form, your information will not be accessible to anyone through the health information exchange (HIE), even in the case of an emergency. Your providers will then need to share your information with each other in the same way that they have in the past (such as by telephone, fax or mail).