Did you know?
Every time you visit an Urgent Care, an Emergency Department, or a new doctor’s office, the provider who is treating you needs to know if:
- You have (or had) any health conditions
- You’ve had prior tests/screenings and your results
- You are taking any medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs
- You have medication allergies or side effects
- You have other specialists on your health care team
If you can’t remember all these details, it’s helpful to know that your care team can have instant access to this health information if you have signed a consent to enroll in your local HIE (also known as a Regional Health Information Organization [RHIO]).
Health Care Designed Around You
An HIE allows doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers to access and securely share your health record so that your health care team can deliver the best care possible. The benefits of accurate, up-to-date health information include:
- Reduced risk of medical errors
- Reduced risk of drug interactions
- Fewer repeated tests and duplicate charges
- Easier second opinions
Find Your Local HIE/RHIO
The list below shows the names of the HIEs in various regions of New York State and Vermont:
| Capital District and Northern New York | *HIXNY |
| Central New York | Healthe Connections |
| Rochester | Rochester RHIO |
| Western New York | HEALTHeLINK |
| Southern Tier and Hudson Valley | Healthe Connections |
| New York City and Long Island | Healthix |
| Bronx | Bronx RHIO |
| Vermont Health Information Exchange | VHIE |
*The University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) has partnered with HIXNY of NY to serve North Country residents who see primary care providers in New York State but go to UVMMC for inpatient or specialty care.
You Can View or Request Your Own Health Records
Some HIEs offer an online patient portal that lets you see the same information that your health care providers see. If your local HIE does offer an online patient portal, we encourage you to use this portal to:
- Prepare for doctor’s visits
- Keep track of important measurements like your blood pressure, lab results, other tests
- Report at-home health readings directly to your doctors (such as blood pressure and blood sugar readings)
- Discuss corrections and updates to your records—such as medications, allergies, diagnoses—with your providers during or between visits
- Share your records with doctors outside your local HIE
- Share your records with facilities not connected to the HIE, such as a Veterans’ Administration hospitals
If your local HIE does not offer an online patient portal, then you can request a copy of your health record. If you are a parent or legal guardian of a child, or the designated caregiver for another adult, you can also access their record through the HIE portal or request a copy of their health record. Visit your local HIE/RHIO website for more details.
Other Important Information About HIEs
- HIEs allow your providers to send and receive referrals and share test results and other important information to help improve your coordination of care
- This information helps your health care team make informed decisions when placing orders for your tests and treatment
- Any health care professional viewing health records must report to the HIE whose records they have accessed and why—therefore, you know your information has been handled properly and your privacy has been protected
- With your permission, MVP can view your health record using an HIE when they are helping you manage a health condition or processing a claim from your doctor
- State and county public health officials can view your health record in situations like a Public Health Emergency (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic), when they are helping to manage large health events
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