ImageTrend Integrates EMS Service Bridge with HIE

LAKEVILLE, MINN. [January 16, 2014] - ImageTrend, Inc. announced the completion of an integration between its EMS Service Bridge™ Electronic Patient Care Reporting (ePCR) system, used by the City of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS), and the Greater New Orleans Health Information Exchange (GNOHIE). The GNOHIE is a community Health IT infrastructure that was funded through the Office of the National Coordinator’s Beacon Communities initiative and is now managed by the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI). The connected solution will populate electronic health data from Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers into the GNOHIE.

EMS Service Bridge uses the established standard for the format of ePCR data as defined by the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) Technical Assistance Center (TAC). Once NOEMS transitions from the current standard to utilizing the new NEMSIS Version 3 dataset, additional information will be shared between the two entities. At that point, NOEMS will have access to outcome data not previously available to them, such as discharge diagnosis and status of patients transported by EMS, and be able to share repeat patient information with GNOHIE community partners.

“As we continue to enhance our Patient Advocacy and Community CARE Program, the integration of ImageTrend EMS Service Bridge with GNOHIE will be essential in assuring the success of our program,” remarked Carl Flores, Deputy Director of NOEMS. “As we look to the future and the changing roles played by EMS providers, New Orleans EMS is excited to be on the forefront of sharing data with other health care providers in a manner new to the field, and continuing to provide the best pre-hospital care possible.”

The GNOHIE team engaged with ImageTrend on behalf of the local community to improve the economic efficiency and quality of the local health system through shared governance and Health Information Technology (HIT) infrastructure. The exchange of patient information is used for analytics, care coordination and ensuring providers have the best information to inform treatment at the point of patient care.

“HIEs typically do not integrate with ePCR systems, leaving large information gaps in managing populations that use primary care and hospital services,” said Liam Bouchier, Acting Director/CIO of LPHI. “This partnership will provide an innovative linkage for our medical practitioners, care coordinators and the patients they serve. We are pleased to be working with ImageTrend to have a positive impact in our community.”

“This solution creates a new benchmark for the future,” commented Mike McBrady, President of ImageTrend, Inc. “ImageTrend’s ability to deliver information about patient outcomes and NEMSIS 3 readiness will be unparalleled in the field, and we’re excited to be a part of improvements in care through the knowledge that comes from data.”

LPHI, a neutral convener of community stakeholders and operator of the exchange, and its many valuable partners launched the GNOHIE in November 2012. It is linked to electronic medical records and health information systems of community health clinics and hospitals to allow seamless exchange of health information in a HIPAA-compliant, encrypted and secure manner to benefit patient care while maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of personal health information. By agreeing to have their medical records shared electronically by authorized health care providers, patients will allow their providers to have a more complete health picture, including medical history, medications and test results. Additionally, it will improve the healthcare providers’ ability to share information with other providers so they can provide fully coordinated care.

More than 500,000 patients and 160 providers are part of the care coordination system, which advocates and leaders of this system hope to eventually realize true population health management and better outcomes for patients in their care.

Current partners of the GNOHIE include:

• West Jefferson Medical Center
• Interim Louisiana State University Hospital, managed by CHMPC
• Common Ground Health Clinic
• Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans
• EXCELth, Inc.
• Healthcare for the Homeless (City of New Orleans Health Department)
• Jefferson Community Healthcare Centers
• Mary Queen of Vietnam/New Orleans East, Louisiana Community Health Center
• NO/AIDS Task Force
• Odyssey House Louisiana
• Access Health Louisiana
• St. Thomas Community Health Center
• Tulane Ruth Fertel Community Health Center
• City of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services