CORHIO Best Practices
 

Improving health through enhanced use of information technology and data exchange is the heart of what we do. We manage one of the country’s largest and most successful health information exchange (HIE) networks, provide advisory services that help healthcare professionals effectively use technology and improve care delivery, and supply health plans and accountable care organizations (ACOs) with valuable data that enhance analytics and population health programs. As an independent, non-profit organization, we are dedicated to serving all of Colorado's healthcare stakeholders including physicians, hospitals, behavioral health, emergency medical services, public health, long-term care, laboratories, imaging centers, health plans, communities and patients.

We were asked to solve the problem of combining data from different grants to focus on behavioral health. We became financially sustainable, successful at exchanging data and opened doors to behavioral health which proved to be of great value to the healthcare community. We were recipient of several grants which encouraged combining healthcare and behavioral health; key
component of grant was how to exchange the information.

Our core interest is to ensure that the providers and patients are connected to have the whole view of a patient and can understand connectivity of different aspects of their health and care; many
behavioral health patients also have substance abuse problems.

Best Practices

• Consent Management System - We decided to create a consent management system for mental health groups – added another exchange method to HIE. We are the only group that allows docs to determine which information is available to be exchanged. Patient can determine which doctor sees the information.
• Education - We educate patients on this consent practice using a 3 pronged approach – collaborating with a substance abuse treatmentorganization – they will create educational materials for patients – both written and electronic video; work with peer support specialists; make the consent be available within the personal health record.  HIEs are also educating primary docs on the value of behavioral health on primary care.