SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Health Information Network is poised to provide care providers with complete access to patient data. UHIN tapped San Jose-based Axolotl for the technology and services to power the network.

The statewide initiative, called cHIE, will provide clinicians with the ability to electronically locate, connect to, and review, in an integrated manner, patient information scattered across multiple healthcare organizations.

"I am excited about the potential that the cHIE brings to authorized physicians and clinical providers across the state of Utah enabling them to safely and appropriately share important clinical information," said Marc Probst, CIO of Intermountain Healthcare. "UHINs staff is focused on implementing Elysium Exchange quickly and efficiently, supporting our goal of improving patient care in Utah. I am confident that the strong team assembled will be able to overcome the challenges ahead and am proud to be associated with UHIN."

"Using Axolotl's proven Elysium Exchange technology, UHIN will electronically connect Utah physicians, other clinicians, hospitals, labs and public health departments so that clinical information can be securely shared - with patient permission - and made available when and where it is needed," said Jan Root, UHIN executive director.

"Every day, Utah clinicians make decisions without access to all the necessary patient information because this information is often scattered among different healthcare organizations that are not connected," Root said. "Scattered information wastes precious clinician time, causes unnecessary ordering of repeat laboratory and radiology tests, reduces the accuracy of diagnoses, and contributes to medical errors that may harm or even kill the patient."

Scott Williams, MD, chief medical officer, Mountain Division of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), sees great potential in the exchange of healthcare information, he said.

"Imagine walking into an emergency department or a new physician's office and allowing them to immediately retrieve your relevant medical records, from various sources, through a secure and private electronic network," Williams said. "This has the potential to improve healthcare services much like the ATM improved banking services. It's that significant."