Delaware, Mass. forge ahead with connectivity

The Delaware Health Information Network recently agreed to use software from Medicity as its connectivity hub, according to Health Data Management (Oct. 23, 2006). Medicity has subcontracted with Perot Systems to provide a data center, help desk and outreach training services.

The Delaware network will receive $4.7 million in federal grants over the next four years. The state government has awarded the network $2 million, and it's getting another $2.2 million from hospitals, LabCorp and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware.

Data exchange services will be rolled out in a three-phase process. The first will involve delivery of hospital and reference lab results to physician offices. The second phase will cover the exchange of notes and results between referring doctors and specialists, and the third will include transmission of radiology reports and images.

Another aborning regional information network is also building its infrastructure, says Health Data Management (Oct 26, 2006). Brockton and Newburyport, MA, which are participating in a statewide health IT project funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, have agreed to use the hub software of Wellogic. A third town in the pilot, North Adams, has selected eClinicalWorks to set up its connectivity hub, because all the physicians in town chose eCW's EHR. The health plan has put up $50 million to purchase EHRs for doctors in all three towns and to create connectivity among health care providers.