Health Information Exchange: Key to Partnership Access and Care Coordination Goals

As the state-designated entity for electronic health information exchange, the Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN) has played a critical role in the Partnership’s work to reduce avoidable utilization and connect patients to primary care and specialty services.  The exchange of health information is essential to achieving quality, patient service and cost reduction objectives. WISHIN supports the exchange of demographics data, tests and procedures, prescriptions and care plans for patients seen in many locations across the state.

“WISHIN is the essential technology with which clinicians across our community can work together to improve health outcomes for the medically underserved.  And, it helps reduce the costs associated with duplicative and avoidable services,” says Greg Stadter, the Partnership’s project director for ED Care Coordination and Specialty Access for the Uninsured programs.  “For providers – especially community clinics – WISHIN connectivity helps ‘complete the picture’ of a patient seen across multiple care settings.”

WISHIN now offers PatientPing, a new electronic notification system that provides real-time alets to providers by text, email, web portal or electronic health record, about their established patients when they have ED or inpatient encounters. PatientPing also lets various care coordinators (Primary Care, ED or Inpatient Transitional, and Medicaid MCOs) communicate care plans and contact information to facilitate the ‘coordination of care coordination.’

“WISHIN has given us the ability to view important patient information that would not otherwise show up in our EHR system.  This functionality has contributed to improved and streamlined patient care.  Follow-up visits are more fruitful, as we no longer need to await patient records that answer, “What happened to you at the hospital?”

Allison Kos DO, Chief Medical Officer

Progressive Community Health Centers