Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - Governor Patrick launches the Massachusetts Health Information Exchange, a secure electronic health information system to enable better coordinated care and reduced health care costs at Massachusetts General Hospital in the historic Ether Dome. ((Photo: Eric Haynes / Governor's Office)
Governor Deval Patrick hit “send” on the first ever electronic health record transmission over the Massachusetts Health Information Exchange, sending his personal health data from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to Baystate Health in Springfield. The new exchange allows for secure electronic health information to be transmitted between health care providers and organizations to better coordinate care, increase patient safety and lower health care costs.
“In Massachusetts we believe that access to affordable, quality health care is a public good, and launching a secure, cutting edge health information exchange is an important step in delivering on that,” said Governor Patrick.
Governor Patrick was joined by health care leaders and physicians at MGH as he hit send on the transaction, sending his record in real time across the state. Baystate Health in Springfield confirmed receipt of the record in real time via videoconference. Representatives from 11 health care organizations in Massachusetts that are early adopters of the HIE system, also know as “Mass HI-way,” participated in the event.
Check out our photos from the event.
