CurrentCare Is The First Statewide HIE In The Nation To Exchange Behavioral Health Data

CurrentCare, Rhode Island’s Health Information Exchange, is the first statewide HIE in the nation to exchange behavioral health data electronically. This week, The Providence Center and Gateway Healthcare, Inc. were the first organizations to submit behavioral health and substance abuse treatment information, known as 42 CFR Part 2 data, into CurrentCare, RI’s statewide HIE. CurrentCare is a service of Rhode Island Quality Institute.

This exchange of protected health information is possible because of CurrentCare’s opt-in model, which requires informed patient consent before CurrentCare can collect information about a patient and share it with the patient’s authorized health care providers. For behavioral health patients, this enables medical and behavioral health providers to work more closely together to provide coordinated, patient-centered treatment.

"This is a major milestone in the progress of CurrentCare and efforts to improve the quality and safety of care in RI," said Laura Adams, president and chief executive officer at RIQI. “For the first time, behavioral health and substance abuse data are integrated, enabling care of the whole person, and bringing providers together in service of this goal.”

Dale K. Klatzker, Ph.D., president/chief executive officer of The Providence Center, said, “By sharing health records with our primary care partners, our more than 500 clinical staff are able to give and get a full picture of an individual’s behavioral health and primary care needs wherever they are providing care--in emergency departments, homes, schools, and neighborhoods across the state. The electronic health record not only provides a full record of medications, diagnosis, and treatment histories for people with complex needs, it acts as a voice for people who often have trouble accessing and receiving quality healthcare.”

“The availability of information through the exchange will ensure that healthcare providers have ready access to important patient history,” said Gateway Healthcare President & CEO Richard Leclerc. “This will facilitate more responsive and coordinated care than we have been able to achieve to date. Participating in Rhode Island’s Health Information Exchange will help eliminate duplicative testing and medical interventions while achieving superior patient care and outcomes.” 

This achievement is possible in part through the persistence and technical support of Netsmart and LWSI, the EHR vendors for Gateway Healthcare, Inc. and the Providence Center, respectively.

About Rhode Island Quality Institute
Rhode Island Quality Institute is a center of collaborative innovation that advances health and healthcare transformation. Our mission is to improve the quality, safety and value of healthcare and share knowledge that advances the field of healthcare improvement. 

RIQI is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2001 and overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors. Board members are senior health industry leaders from our community, including CEOs of hospitals, health insurers and health-related businesses, along with leaders of consumer groups, academia and government agencies. For more information, visit www.riqi.org.