On Wednesday, Maryland’s Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), the state entity that determines reimbursement rates for hospitals, awarded $10 million in startup funding to Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) to build and operate a statewide health information exchange. While CRISP is a partnership among Johns Hopkins Medicine, MedStar Health, the University of Maryland Medical Systems and Erickson Retirement Communities, it is designed to connect all healthcare institutions in the state.
"This will give health care providers the right information at the point of care so that they can make the best diagnosis and treatment decision, while in a framework that protects patient privacy," said David Horrocks, president of CRISP.
With the permission of patients, the health information exchange will link physicians, hospitals, medical laboratories, pharmacies and other provider organizations to improve the continuity and quality of care while improving efficiency and reducing cost.
“Americans are paying attention to healthcare issues now more than ever. And we know we have to create a more efficient system, adds Mark Kelemen, a CRISP board member, cardiologist and chief medical informatics officer of the University of Maryland Medical System. "Patient controlled, privacy protected HIE is an excellent first step.”
Gov. Martin O’Malley said the implementation of the project would keep Maryland at the forefront of the nation’s health information technology movement. The funding approval comes just a few short weeks after HSCRC unanimously approved CRISP as the state’s designated health information exchange.
Audacious Inquiry has been working with the CRISP initiative since its inception. AI will serve on the project as the program management office and fulfilling a number of technical and advisory functions for CRISP.