New Medical Records System to Transmit Electronically Between Providers

Gov. Deval Patrick on Tuesday launched the state's new electronic medical record system by being the first to send his own medical records from Massachusetts General Hospital to Baystate Health in Springfield. 

The new Massachusetts Health Information Exchange (HIE) allows electronic information to be securely electronically transmitted between health care providers –  regardless of provider affiliation, location, or differences in technology – so that they can coordinate care, lower costs and ensure greater patient safety and lower health care costs, according to the governor's office.   

“In Massachusetts we believe that access to affordable, quality health care is a public good, and launching a secure, cutting-edge health information exchange is an important step in delivering on that,” Patrick said.  

The project is being funded by $16.9 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Medicaid funds.

“The Massachusetts Health Information Exchange is an essential tool for achieving the highest quality of care while promoting our cost containment goals,” Sen. Richard T. Moore, Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and a lead negotiator of the most recent health care cost containment legislation, said.