Health-Care IT: N.J. insurer launches medical imaging Web portal

A New Jersey health insurer has launched a pilot program that will allow participating physicians to access patients’ medical imaging records through a web portal.

Access to the portal, called the New Jersey Health Information Exchange, is free to any physician in the state, according to a statement from AmeriHealth New Jersey. The program will give physicians 24-hour access to medical imaging such as CAT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and x-rays uploaded from participating hospitals and imaging centers.

“This new program will give New Jersey doctors, nurses, and other health-care providers the modern information tools they need to provide their patients with the finest possible care," says Paul Portsmore, vice president of health services for AmeriHealth. "The exchange will increase convenience and, most importantly, enhance patient outcomes."

AmeriHealth says the program will benefit physicians by saving them time in obtaining patient records.

Patients will have authority over whether their records are shared on the network, according to the statement. AmeriHealth says it expects to broaden the program to include other types of medical records next year.

A Philadelphia-based firm, HxTechnologies, will operate the network. The company specializes in health information technology, according to the statement.