HIE Reduces Redundancy, Cuts Costs

Use of a health information exchange can limit the number of redundant medical imaging and tests, often leading to savings for providers.

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

“Providers who have access to patient records through an electronic health information exchange order fewer repeat X-rays, ultrasounds and other imaging tests,” wrote researchers in a study published by the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

The study used the records of more than 12,000 patients in a 13-county region in western New York via the Rochester Regional Health Information Organization. According to Fierce Health IT, these patients had imaging done then saw a physician within 90 days.

iHealth Beat explains HIE use was associated with annual savings of $32,460 in avoided repeat imaging, which equated to about $2.57 in savings per patient. While lower-cost procedures, such as X-rays, were least likely to be repeated, the largest savings actually came from higher-cost imaging services. For the full article click here 

from health IT caucus http://ift.tt/1nYS6r5
via IFTTT