Late last year, a group of Nashville, Tenn., hospitals and hospital systems agreed to partner to create an electronic health information exchange, the Tennessean reports.
The health data exchange, which could launch within 18 months, is intended to help eliminate redundant tests, reduce costs and boost patient safety. The collaboration includes:
- Baptist Hospital;
- Metro General Hospital;
- Saint Thomas Hospital;
- TriStar Health System; and
- Vanderbilt Medical Center.
Hospital officials still need to agree on the types of data to exchange, as well as issues regarding regulatory compliance, connectivity and privacy.
Reginald Coopwood, CEO of Metro General and leader of the health data exchange effort, said the coalition might begin with a narrow focus by making data available at emergency departments. CareSpark, a health data exchange serving providers in northeastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, took a similar approach (Ward,
Tennessean, 3/5).