San Bernardino County To Join Health Data Exchange
On Tuesday, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors approved a plan for the county to participate in the Inland Empire Health Information Exchange. The health data exchange -- which includes most of the major health care providers, physician groups and hospitals in Riverside and San Bernardino counties -- is expected to increase efficiency and lower costs by allowing health care providers to securely share patient records electronically. Participating in the health data exchange will cost San Bernardino County about $150,000 annually, but the first five years will be covered by the Inland Empire Health Plan, a public HMO that provides services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
- "SB COUNTY: Patient Information To Be Exchanged" (Ghori, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 10/18).