Xerox Company ACS Implements Iowa's Health Information Exchange

Previously, in order to share healthcare data, doctors had to pass along paper copies of laboratory and radiology reports, medication histories, past diagnoses and immunizations. However, thanks to recent innovations, Iowa will now see a change in healthcare data sharing.

The state will now turn to ACS, a Xerox Company, to implement and manage its health information exchange. Electronic medical data even from small rural practices will be now securely shared between healthcare providers with this system.

"No matter where our residents receive care, whether it's a hospital in Des Moines or a nursing home in a rural town, health practitioners will be able to securely and immediately access critical decision-making information,” Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, director, Iowa Department of Public Health said.

According to Miller-Meeks, advanced analytics and quality tools will be deployed by ACS. A complete picture of a patient's health history, medication history, lab results, family and social history, and vital statistics will be provided.

Iowa's Department of Public Health has created a team of hospitals, consumers, healthcare providers and payers known as Iowa e-Health. The Iowa Health Information Network or IHIN will be implemented by Iowa e-Health in collaboration with ACS. Vital patient health information records can be safely and securely accessed by patients and participating vital patient health information records through this system.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded grants to states, including Iowa as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant has been awarded to develop health information exchanges.

Will Saunders, group president, ACS Government Healthcare Solutions said, "States are consistently faced with the challenge of finding ways to leverage health information technology to improve the quality of care. Not only is our solution cost-effective, it delivers patient-centric knowledge that improves the outcome and efficiency of care."

The pilot project is expected to begin in July. Iowa e-Health which will look after the operations of the IHIN also expects to fully implement the project by December. Technology partners like Informatics Corporation of America, Genova Technologies, and LightEdge Solutions are part of the ACS team supporting the IHIN implementation.

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