HealthShare Exchange (HSX) is unique as an organization by having three health plans as Founding Members. The collaboration between payer and providers HSX encourages across its services benefits all parties that strive to provide and manage patient care in the most effective and efficient way possible. By being able to easily access members’ data, HSX member health plans are able to more effectively coordinate care with patients and their treating providers.
Service Descriptions
Direct Secure Messaging
Utilizing the national Direct Project standards, HSX helps members send and receive confidential patient health information by Direct Secure Messaging. This service transmits secure, electronic messaging between providers directly into their Electronic Health Record (EHR). If an organization’s EHR cannot support direct, HSX can provide a secure portal for organizations to use. Webmail, a web-based platform, allows providers to receive any type of clinical information including but not limited to Continuity of Care Documents, Encounter Notification Service or Referrals.
Provider Directory
Our Provider Directory (PD) contains over 15,000 direct addresses for clinical providers who actively participate with HSX. Members can utilize our directory to send secure messages regarding patients including Continuity of Care (CCD) Documents to other providers on the patient’s care team. Through our PD, members can securely communicate beyond their organization with other HSX member-based providers and participants regarding patient care.
Clinical Data Repository
Our Master Patient Index (MPI) serves as a database to patients in the HSX membership region. With sophisticated algorithms to accurately search and confirm a patient, HSX members can access significant clinical and claims data in one central location. Retaining information from our direct members, statewide through the P3N, and nationally from eHealth Exchange, our members can see encounters, patient problems, medications procedures, Continuity of Care Documents (CCDs), lab results and more robust clinical data. This information can be accessed in a variety of different ways to support provider’s existing workflow.
Clinical Data Repository (CDR) Overview
Encounter Notification Service (ENS)
Supporting transitions of care, HSX members can subscribe to their patient populations and receive notifications when these patients have had encounters across the healthcare continuum. This would include an admission or discharge notification for hospitalizations including the emergency department, or post-acute care facilities. HSX’s external network connections support this service and provide patient access to this critical data across Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This data can be delivered through a variety of delivery mechanisms and sent real-time or as a summary list.
Encounter Notification Service (ENS) Overview
Urgent Patient Activity Liaison Service (uPAL)
The Urgent Patient Activity Liaison service (uPAL) is a patient locator capability. For this resource, HSX uses admission discharge transfer (ADT) data feeds from its member hospitals as a database of locations for patients who have arrived for or completed care at regional hospitals. When HSX member hospitals receive an inquiry seeking information on one or more patients who may have received medical care, they can query HSX for information on where patients may have entered the regional healthcare system to locate these patients. This service is only utilized in times of crisis scenarios to assist both families and authorities.
In a healthcare market as significant as the greater Delaware Valley region, doctors, hospitals, insurers, and others must work together to improve healthcare quality, lower costs, and improve satisfaction. One way that will happen is through innovation and by creating a superior health information exchange, such as HealthShare Exchange
Richard L. Snyder, MD (Chair)
Senior Vice President / Chief Medical Officer, Independence Blue Cross