N.Y. RHIO shares diagnostic images

HealtheConnections, a Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) in Central New York, has enlisted Axolotl Image Exchange service to offer access to diagnostic medical images in its array of available clinical  information.

The Axolotl Image Exchange service is offered by eHealth Global Technologies in partnership with Axolotl and works with Axolotl's HIE platform. Participating healthcare providers can securely access images originating at radiology and cardiology image providers with a single click, within the context of electronic patient records from anywhere.

Having images available when and where they are needed can reduce unnecessary imaging exams and thus minimize patient radiation exposure, according to Axolotl, based in San Jose, Calif. Physicians also can provide faster diagnosis and treatment, improving care coordination while reducing costs.  

HealtheConnections was launched in May 2010 and has connected four hospitals and one lab, with plans to expand to 19 hospitals across 11 counties. HealtheConnections joins Axolotl Exchange customers Franciscan Health System (Tacoma, Wash.) and the Rochester RHIO (Rochester, N.Y.), as a growing number of HIEs add images to their roster of information-sharing capabilities.

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