News Taffy

Physicians and providers throughout Arkansas can now access immediately and securely exchange current, updated electronic health records (EHRs) for patients who have been seen at NEA Baptist, which is now participating with SHARE, the Statewide Health Information Exchange.

SHARE enables providers at different medical facilities across Arkansas to exchange medical records for patients they have in common. Using SHARE, a pediatrician can connect to a patient’s most current and comprehensive health information, including that patient’s health data from other facilities connected to SHARE.

For example, if six-year-old Josephina from Batesville is admitted to Children’s Hospital, her SHARE-connected pediatrician back home can securely access her health data from her stay in the hospital.  Her pediatrician can then update her progress using SHARE, so that Josephina’s other SHARE-connected physicians can also stay informed about her care.

From a hospital’s perspective, if a child arrives in the Emergency Room for the first time after a car wreck, the ER staff is now able to pull up his record in SHARE, see his current medical condition and medications, and make better-informed decisions about his care on the spot. 

“We are pleased to participate in the SHARE initiative,” said Darrell King, CEO OF NEA Baptist Clinic. “Having the ability to share with other Arkansas health care providers is definitely advantageous to our patients.”

“NEA Baptist is one of 26 health systems signed on to participate in SHARE,” Arkansas Health Information Technology Coordinator Ray Scott sad. “We are very excited to have NEA Baptist as part of our SHARE network. Every time a new practice or hospital in the state joins SHARE, the network is that much more useful to its participants.”

Research shows that patients whose health records are available via a secure health information exchange with their other physicians receive better care and have fewer duplicate tests and procedures ordered by the different physicians.

The collaboration of NEA Baptist and SHARE follows the announcement just months ago about Baptist OneCare – the new electronic health record system used at NEA Baptist, allowing patients to access their own health records electronically. The patient portal component of Baptist OneCare, called MyChart, also allows patients to view test results, communicate with physicians, refill prescriptions, request appointments, and more. Patients will find an additional value in the sharing of information with participating health care providers across the state of Arkansas should they need care in one of those facilities.

About NEA Baptist

NEA Baptist Health System comprises NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital and NEA Baptist Clinic, northeast Arkansas’ largest physician group. The 181-bed hospital offers cancer care, heart care through the Heart Center, labor and delivery services through the hospital's Women's Center, as well as a number of inpatient and outpatient services, emergency care, and surgical services including weight loss surgery, neurology, respiratory care, and pulmonary rehabilitation. NEA Baptist Clinic’s over 100 physicians practice in more than 35 specialties and offer a wealth of services, from pediatrics to orthopedic services. For more information about NEA Baptist, please call 870-936-1000 or 870-936-8000 or visit www.neabaptist.com or www.neabaptistclinic.com.

About SHARE

The State Health Alliance for Records Exchange (SHARE) is a secure, electronic system that allows authorized health care providers, health services professionals and public health authorities in Arkansas to exchange accurate patient medical information in real time. The Arkansas Office of Health Information Technology (OHIT), created by Act 891 of 2011, has implemented SHARE in a series of phases, beginning with Secure Messaging to help providers meet meaningful use requirements, and a fully-functional health information exchange (HIE) that gives health care providers access to hospital discharge summaries, lab results, immunization records and other vital information. For more information, visit www.SHAREArkansas.com.

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