The ED Linking Project is the first step toward implementation of a secure health information exchange system that will enhance care coordination and provide needed medical information to clinicians when patients present for care. The system is being designed to be useful for all patients, with an initial focus on safety net providers and emergency departments.
Your friend,
who is visiting from across town, suddenly has a seizure...
An ambulance brings him to your local hospital, clinicians there ask you if you can provide any past medical information about your friend since he is very confused. You are unable to help and feel helpless. The clinicians seem frustrated and say they will do the best they can...
This type of problem occurs daily in emergency departments, and the ED Linking system is designed to provide a solution.
The ED Linking information exchange shall provide emergency physicians immediate access to past medical history for patients that register for care at their facilities. This will be accomplished in a manner that is virtually transparent to current workflow. It is expected to improve quality, reduce redundancy of testing and decrease frequency of medical errors. The ED Linking system will be compliant with HIPAA regulations and will include a robust security environment to ensure confidentiality of all individual patient information.
