KALISPELL, MT – Northwest Healthcare, the largest participant in the Health Information Exchange of Montana (HIEM), has begun to aggregate data from all core clinical systems.

This implementation of technology developed by the Informatics Corporation of America (ICA) is the first phase in the initiative to integrate patient information across six hospitals and more than a dozen clinics. Deployment of ICA technology throughout the remaining hospitals and clinics is slated for completion by mid-2009.

The HIEM contracted with Nashville-based ICA in July 2008 for a single-source solution to consolidate patient data from existing clinical information systems in medical facilities throughout a 45,000 square-mile area in western Montana, with the goal of improving quality, reducing duplication of effort and facilitating communication across treatment settings.

Hospitalists at Northwest Healthcare and Family Health Care have begun using the ICA solution to view information from all hospital-based clinical systems to assess and treat their patients during rounds.

"I'm excited about incorporating data from North Valley Hospital in Whitefish and the rest of the region because we share much of the same patient population," said Jonathan Anderson, MD, director of medical technology for Northwest Healthcare. "Having a complete picture of my patients allows me to understand the unique nuances of each individual and better manage their acute condition."

The technology will next be rolled out to the emergency department of the hospital, relieving physicians of the need to log on to five or more disparate systems to accumulate information on a patient.

With a single view of patient data from various treatment settings, physicians will be able to prepare for a patient's arrival at the emergency department and better coordinate follow-up care, Anderson said.

"Although a large percentage of medical clinics throughout western Montana are ahead of the curve in implementing electronic medical records, information cannot easily be shared among the various treatment settings and geographic locations serving our region," said Kip Smith, executive director of the HIEM. "ICA is breaking down silos of information to deliver a comprehensive longitudinal medical record viewable by all healthcare organizations within the community. We see this as the next evolution of providing every member of a healthcare team the information they need, when they need it, so they can deliver optimal care to the citizens of western Montana."