Contact: Ryan Davenport, 612-672-4164

MINNEAPOLIS (Sept 19, 2008) --The Minnesota Health Information Exchange (MN HIE) announced today that Fairview Health Services has joined as a sponsor. MN HIE will connect doctors, hospitals and clinics across the state so they can quickly access secure electronic medical information. MN HIE’s initial service will offer access to medication history. Future services will include lab and radiology tests and e-prescribing.

“MN HIE will make a dramatic difference in the care we provide and ties directly to our goals of providing exceptional clinical care and creating an exceptional patient experience,” said Ray Gensinger, M.D., Fairview’s chief medical information officer. “We feel MN HIE will improve patient safety, increase efficiency among health care providers, and reduce administrative costs for all health care organizations involved in the initiative.”

MN HIE is especially needed when a patient requires care at a new hospital that does not have the patient’s electronic medical record. Most Minnesota hospital and clinic systems have electronic medical records, but they only allow providers access within its own system.

Earlier this year, the Minnesota state Legislature passed a bill authorizing the Minnesota Department of Human Services to participate as a sponsor in this private-public partnership. Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the state’s participation last year when the project was unveiled. Its membership in MN HIE will provide secure medical information for enrollees in state health care programs, including Minnesota Care, Medical Assistance and General Assistance Medical Care.

In addition to Fairview and DHS, MN HIE’s other sponsors include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica and UCare. Other healthcare organizations can subscribe to MN HIE’s services.

Minnesota Health Information Exchange

The Minnesota Health Information Exchange (MN HIE) is a not-for-profit organization established by the state’s leading health plans, hospitals and clinics and the state of Minnesota. MN HIE improves safety and efficiency by providing doctors across the state with secure electronic access to vital medical information needed to treat patients during a medical emergency or for routine care. To protect patient privacy in accordance with state and federal law, patients must grant permission before doctors or other health care providers can access information.