Dignity Health Joins the California Integrated Data Exchange

dignityhealth-twitterThe California Integrated Data Exchange (@CalINDEX) announced that Dignity Health (@DignityHealth), one of the nation’s largest health systems, will participate in the statewide health information exchange (HIE) as a foundational provider organization.

Cal INDEX operates a next-generation HIE that allows healthcare professionals throughout the state to share patients’ health information, enhancing care delivery. “Dignity Health’s participation in Cal INDEX will enhance the quality and efficiency of healthcare for millions of Californians,” said David Watson, CEO of Cal INDEX. “Our unique HIE model combines both provider and payer data, giving participants access to a more complete and integrated patient record. When providers have access to the data they need, care can be more effectively coordinated and medication adherence improved.”

As one of the nation’s largest health systems, Dignity Health provides integrated, patient and family centered care through 9,000 physicians and 59,000 employees across California, Arizona and Nevada. The health system will initially connect five hospitals from its Sacramento region to the HIE and eventually expand participation to all 32 of its California facilities.

“Our participation in Cal INDEX will give clinicians access to more comprehensive historical patient information, enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality care in a cost-effective way,” said Lloyd Dean, President/CEO of Dignity Health. “Cal INDEX is unique in that it incorporates both provider and payer information for patient data that we need for a successful transition to newer outcomes-based models of care.”

Cal INDEX provides healthcare professionals with reliable and secure on-line access to approximately 9 million health information records—nearly one-fourth of the state’s population. With the addition of Dignity Health’s patient information, Cal INDEX will significantly enhance the data available to healthcare professionals. Cal INDEX is open to any health data contributor.

About Cal INDEX
California Integrated Data Exchange (Cal INDEX) is an independent, nonprofit organization that is developing a statewide, next-generation health information exchange (HIE). This unique comprehensive collection of electronic patient records includes clinical data from healthcare providers and health insurers combined into a single longitudinal patient record (LPR). Cal INDEX provides the underlying data and technology platform to provide real-time access. The goal of Cal INDEX is to improve quality of care by providing clinicians with a unified statewide source of integrated patient information, improve efficiencies and coordination of care and reduce the cost of healthcare. Cal INDEX was founded through seed funding from Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross. For more information, visit their website.