After nearly a year of delays due to the pandemic, Connecticut’s new health information exchange launched on Monday, allowing access to patient health records across providers on a secure network.
Dubbed “Connie,” the centralized patient information will be available to providers and insurers for now, with patients able to access their own data in the near future.
“We’re now officially on the path that many other states have traveled to improve healthcare by sharing data so that it’s available when and where it’s needed,” said Office of Health Strategy Executive Director Victoria Veltri. “Connie will help providers and patients access information to improve care, reduce redundant testing and lower overall healthcare costs.”
Monday’s launch also started the clock for providers, who are required to register with the system within a year to two years from today’s launch date. Once every lab, hospital, doctor and clinic is participating, any patient’s health record can be securely accessed instantly through the portal by any provider in the state. [Patients can opt out of the system if desired.]
“Connie is a powerful tool for the Connecticut healthcare system,” said Jenn Searls, executive director of the exchange. “Connie’s implementation will mean that a patient’s full history will meet them when they visit any provider, including the emergency room, where oftentime patients’ medical backgrounds can be a mystery.”
A total of 45 other states already have health information exchanges in place and have used the systems during the pandemic to track virus outbreaks, identify clusters and help public health officials fight COVID-19. The exchanges have also proved useful during natural disasters like hurricanes and floods.
Veltri said Connecticut’s information exchange will also be used to track health disparities and improve care for the state’s communities of color. Providers will be asked to track detailed information about patient demographics and treatment outcomes under the system.
“We think that the best way to improve performance and to frankly deal with a lot of the implicit bias and structural racism we have in healthcare is to collect this information,” Veltri said.
The state contributed about $5 million this year toward setting up the exchange, with the remainder of funding coming from federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services technology grants. Providers will pay subscription fees to access the database in the future, Searls said.
