Health Information Exchange (HIE)

Health Information Exchange (HIE) is a way for healthcare providers, hospitals, laboratories and organizations involved in your care coordination and payment to see your electronic health records to improve the quality of healthcare services. Your information is shared via a secure network and may be stored in a secure system to ensure the safest and most efficient exchange of your information. This network allows authorized healthcare providers/organizations and professionals involved in your treatment, coordination of care, quality improvement and activities related to management or payment of your healthcare access to your health records quickly to provide you with the appropriate medical treatment and related services. Your information will be shared with participating HIEs unless you decline.

St. Luke’s Hospital works directly with Midwest Health Connection (MHC) for the HIE. Midwest Health Connection (MHC) is currently providing services to thousands of physicians, serving patients in 75+ hospitals and more than 350 clinics in Missouri and neighboring states. MHC allows electronic notifications to alert physicians about important events, such as when their patients are admitted to the hospital, may need care in an out-of-town emergency, important test results from referring physicians, and more. Continuity of care documents can be securely exchanged between health providers to reduce redundant medical tests and to ensure that patients receive the appropriate care based on their medical history. MHC currently processes more than 125,000 electronic transactions per day to help healthcare providers improve operational efficiency and deliver the highest quality, most cost-effective care.

To view list of current participants, click here.

Download the MHC Patient Fact Sheet (PDF)

HEALTH INFORMATION TO BE DISCLOSED
The electronic disclosure of information includes all types of information, including sensitive health conditions, from your medical records to your healthcare provider, designated staff and approved HIE participants. This includes, but is not limited to, information about:

• treatment
• procedures
• medication(s)
• laboratory and other test results such as HIV tests
• allergies
• mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism, drug dependence or substance abuse diagnoses, including HIV

USE AND REDISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
St. Luke’s Hospital and participating HIEs will use your health information for the purpose of continuity of your care and it will maintain the information according to its own policies and practices. It may redisclose some or all of that information as permitted by state and federal laws and regulations.

RESCINDING OR CANCELLING YOUR AUTHORIZATION TO SHARE HEALTH INFORMATION WITH HIEs
If you do not wish your health information to be shared with HIEs, you may complete a HIE Opt-Out form. The Opt-Out form will prevent the exchange of future information between St. Luke’s Hospital and the HIEs listed. HIE participants who already have your health information are not required to remove it from their records. Providers will continue to have access to your health information through non-electronic methods and electronic prescription exchange. Any notification signed for a patient under age 18 will expire the day before the patient's 18th birthday.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING HIEs
You have the right to inspect and receive a copy of your health information disclosed by making a request with St. Luke’s Health Information Services department or the office staff at your doctor's office. You may complete a HIE Opt-Out form at any time and no healthcare provider may condition treatment, payment, enrollment or eligibility of benefits based on whether you opt-out of sharing health information with HIEs. Please also note that federal law protects your health information from being improperly disclosed. 

Download the HIE Opt-Out Form (PDF)
Download the HIE Revoke Opt-Out Form (PDF)
Download the HIE Notification (PDF)