Missouri, Kansas And Nebraska Connect Via Direct Secured Messaging

Kansas Health Information Network, Missouri Health Connection and Nebraska Health Information Initiative Enable Secure Exchange of Health Information Across State Lines

The Nebraska Health Information Initiative (NeHII), Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN), and Missouri Health Connection (MHC) recently announced they are now connected and able to exchange Direct secure messages across state lines. 

“By connecting with Kansas and Nebraska, Missouri Health Connection is leading the way towards improved care for patients who cross state lines for medical care,” said Mary Kasal, President & CEO of Missouri Health Connection.  “We’re excited to now be connected to Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois and look forward to connecting with all our border states.”

“This is an exciting achievement that will help streamline communication, particularly for patients who live near the Kansas/Missouri and Kansas/Nebraska state lines.   Many patients see health care providers in Kansas and then receive additional care in surrounding states.   It is vital that providers have a safe, secure method to communicate critical patient information across state lines,” said Laura McCrary Ed.D, Executive Director of Kansas Health Information Network.  “KHIN is pleased to help lead the way of interstate connectivity along with MHC and NeHII.”

“Having Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri connected is one more step towards more coordinated care,” said Deb Bass, CEO of the Nebraska Health Information Initiative.  “We here in the Midwest are proud to be on the forefront of health care transformation through the use of technology.”

This milestone announcement from Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska comes on the heels of Missouri and Illinois recently announcing they successfully exchanged test messages. 

The Direct project was launched in March 2010 as a part of the Nationwide Health Information Network.  With Direct Secured Messaging, care providers can send and receive authenticated, encrypted health care information such as lab results, clinical notes and patient care summaries through a secure electronic mailbox system to and from trusted recipients over the Internet.  By connecting Missouri’s and Illinois’ Direct Secured Messaging health information service providers (HISPs), providers can now eliminate faxing multiple pages across state borders and instead use an easy, quick and secure Direct secured email message.

About The Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN)
KHIN’s mission is to improve health care quality, coordination and efficiency through the exchange of health information at the point of care utilizing a secure electronic network provided by a collaboration of health care organizations.   KHIN is a provider led 501(c)3.  It draws users from a broad geographical area and aligns with state data sources to support cost effective delivery of services. It supports and integrates with community and medical trading area efforts to drive care coordination and workflow changes creating a climate to encourage innovation. Its goals are to ensure providers, patients and communities have long-term access to cost effective, sustainable health information exchange aligned with costs distributed across a broad user base. It also encourages and removes barriers so communities and regions can focus on quality improvement, patient centered medical home and entrepreneurial strategies that effect local health outcomes. For more information, visit http://www.khinonline.org/.

About the Nebraska Health Information Initiative (NeHII)
As an early adopter and national leader for Health Information Exchange, NeHII, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization has functioned as a public-private collaborative that currently reaches nearly 85 percent of lives in Nebraska and a substantial number of individuals in Nebraska's six border states. NeHII's vision is to be a leader in the secure exchange of health information, enabling a healthier Nebraska. For more information, visit http://nehii.org.

About Missouri Health Connection (MHC)
Missouri Health Connection (MHC) is the state-designated entity to implement Missouri’s statewide health information network.  MHC’s early adopters include BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the U.S.; Mercy with 31 acute care hospitals and 1,700 integrated physicians in the Midwest; and SSM Health Care, with 17 hospitals and the first healthcare winner of the Malcolm Baldrige Award, who, together, provide almost 40% of inpatient care in Missouri. These organizations, along with Burrell Behavioral Health, a provider of behavioral health services since 1977 and Nevada Medical Clinic, a rural multi- specialty clinic, support thousands of physicians and caregivers who can now use Direct Secured Messaging to provide better healthcare to Missourians. For more information, visit www.MissouriHealthConnection.org.