Ambulatory Integration

The WVHIN is currently connected with numerous provider organizations across the region. Ambulatory Connectivity will focus on expanding integrations with providers in multiple care settings beyond the hospitals to include both physician practices and post-acute care facilities.

This connectivity will facilitate the electronic access and exchange of patient information between providers. The purpose of this is to improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and improve care coordination among providers by making clinical data from multiple care settings available to providers at the point of care.

What Data Is Shared?

WVHIN desires a comprehensive data set for each patient (CCDA, Clinical Feed, & Basic Visit Data), however there may be varying limitations in the data accessible among different EHR vendors.

Who Can Have Access?

Patient data will be available to all providers affiliated with that patient’s care via the WVHIN’s HIE. The information can be used for patient care decision-making at the point of care.

Information is not shared with health plans without the specific consent of the practice.

What Are The Benefits?

Aside from greater care coordination of your patients, integrated practices can:

  • Auto-subscribe to the WVHIN’s electronic notification service (ENS) without the need to submit a monthly patient panel.
  • The integration can also serve as a bidirectional exchange of data. Depending on your EHR system, not only will you be sending patient data from your EHR system to the WVHIN, the WVHIN can send patient data back to you to be displayed in your EHR system.

How Do I Connect?

The WVHIN will look to integrate ambulatory practices in a number of different ways:

  • Working with you and your EHR vendor to coordinate the integration with the WVHIN
  • Utilization of 3rd party vendors to help connect your practice with the WVHIN
  • Working with administrative networks (e.g. integration with clearing house and payers) to collect claim data

Is there a cost?

The cost per connection to the WVHIN is at a nominal fee tiered on the number of providers. The WVHIN encourages all practices to participate and with the support of the state, the WVHIN has funding to help offset costs associated with connecting to the HIE. The ambulatory practice’s EHR vendor may charge the practice with a one-time setup fee as well as an ongoing maintenance fee. The WVHIN will work with the practice and the vendor to cover the setup fee and help offset ongoing costs where feasible.

What Are The Requirements?

Participating organizations are required to sign a participation agreement with the WVHIN. They are also required to update their Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP), to include language on their participation with the WVHIN, as part of HIPAA notification. Patients are able to opt-out of the HIE. When opted-out, their clinical information will not be made available. According to federal law, patients cannot opt-out of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) data.

For more information about integration with the WVHIN and to sign-up, please contact the WVHIN at gro.nihvwnull@ofni. or call (844).468.5755.