A Health Information Exchange, or HIE, is a way of sharing your health information among participating doctors’ offices, hospitals, labs, radiology centers, and other health care providers through secure, electronic means. The purpose is so that each of your participating caregivers can have the benefit of the most recent information available from your other participating caregivers when taking care of you.

Your College Medical Center HIE patient record will include your medications, allergies, current and past test results, and summaries of your past and current health problems. It will not include psychotherapy and sensitive notes or other information that requires your specific authorization to release under federal law. Having timely access to a more complete and accurate health record will help your caregivers work together more easily, make better decisions about your care, eliminate redundant forms, and reduce mistakes, especially in an emergency.

Only health care providers who are treating you and their associated staff who are specifically given rights to the HIE network can access your records through CMC HIE. For example, if one of your providers participates in CMC HIE, he or she can access your health information maintained by your other providers who also participate in CMC HIE.

College Medical Center is committed to keeping your records private and secure. Clear and strict federal and state guidelines govern how your health information can be exchanged, viewed, or used. Information that identifies you will not be sold or made available for other purposes. Only those that care for you will be able to view your health information, and only when needed to provide or coordinate your care, make referrals, submit mandatory public health reports (such as your vaccination history), or to provide health care benefits to you.

If you see multiple doctors who participate in HIE, they may see a more complete picture of your health and make more informed treatment decisions. The goal is for you to receive coordinated care more efficiently. Your health care information is available to participating health care providers where and when they need it without delay.

An HIE gives your health care team your medical history information on their computers with just a few clicks.

To provide you with the safest, most effective, and efficient care possible, authorized clinicians and care teams need a complete picture of your medical history-especially in emergencies, when every second counts. Sharing your information through an HIE allows clinicians and others who support your care to securely share vital medical information electronically. Instead of relying on the slow delivery of fax messages, phone calls and postal service, your caregiver can access critical information the moment it is needed.

Yes. The goal of CMC HIE is to provide your caregivers outside CMC secure access to the best available information about your health. By opting out of health information exchange, your caregivers outside CMC may have less information about you when making a diagnosis for you, or when making decisions with you about your care.

Your health information will be visible to your caregivers through CMC HIE unless you opt-out using this form or by contacting College Medical Center Health Information Services at 562.997.2002. Please allow up to five (5) business days to process your opt-out request. Your choice to opt-out of the Health Information Exchange will not affect your ability to access medical care. Opting out will not prevent your caregivers from sharing your health information with authorized entities when necessary for public health or research purposes that are permitted or required by College Medical Center as well as federal and state law.

In cases of medical emergency, your doctor may request to view your health record to diagnose or treat your emergency medical condition and College Medical Center HIE will make your records available under such circumstances. Information that has already been released pursuant to a previous authorization or other HIE will not be affected by the opt-out request.

Opting out of the national HIEs listed above will not remove you from the regional or statewide HIEs, when you opt-out your information is not available, even in an emergency. For other HIEs, even if you opt-out, your information will still be available, but only in an emergency.

If you would like to Opt-Out of other Health Information Exchange in Arizona, California, Nevada please visit each of the web sites below to take action:

http://www.ocprhio.org/Patients/optout/ (Central Coast/Southern – California)

http://www.santacruzhie.org/patients/schie-consent/ (Santa Cruz/Bay Area – California)

https://sacvalleyms.org/patients (Northern California)

https://healthcurrent.org/hie-participants/patient-rights-process/ (Arizona)

http://healthienevada.org/how-do-i-sign-up/ (Nevada)

https://www.manifestmedex.org/opt-out/ (Inland Empire, California)