Building a network on a legacy of teamwork

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Healthcare Administration
• Health Economics

Background:

• The Hospital Consortium of Greater Rochester comprises nine hospitals with a history of cost-control collaboration.
• Local employers are actively involved, seeking to minimize unnecessary medical care and reduce overall healthcare expenditures.
• Existing regional efforts focus on preventing service duplication among healthcare facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a unified electronic health information network connecting nine hospitals in the Greater Rochester area.
• To leverage technology for improved healthcare cost control and service efficiency.
• To facilitate easier access to existing clinical data for healthcare providers.

Main Methods:

• Developing and implementing a shared electronic health information network infrastructure.
• Fostering collaboration between hospitals, healthcare providers, and major local employers.
• Integrating existing clinical databases into the new electronic network.

Main Results:

• The establishment of a collaborative electronic health information network is underway.
• The network is designed to support cost-reduction strategies by minimizing unnecessary care.
• It aims to prevent the duplication of healthcare services across participating hospitals.

Conclusions:

• The electronic health information network is a key initiative for cost containment in Rochester's healthcare system.
• This network will enhance data accessibility and support efficient healthcare delivery.
• The project signifies a coordinated approach to improving healthcare services and reducing costs through technology.