Frequently Asked Questions about eHealth and THINC
Q: What is eHealth in the Hudson Valley?
A: eHealth is the use of a computer network, instead of paper, to store and manage your medical records. eHealth is also sometimes called “health information technology.” In eHealth networks, you can make information about your health available electronically to doctors and other care providers you choose, which can help you get better care.
THINC is rolling out a regional eHealth network called the Hudson Valley Health Information Exchange (HVHIE) to improve the quality and safety of health care for all residents.
The HVHIE can help providers get and securely share information about patients from such places as hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, and clinical laboratories.
Q: What can eHealth do for me?
A: eHealth can help pave the way for safer, more convenient health care. Medical records are reports about your illnesses, injuries, medicines and/or test results. If you’ve changed doctors, seen a specialist, visited a clinic, or checked into a hospital, your records are likely on paper and in different places. This makes it hard to get a complete picture of your health. eHealth can help to solve that problem by bringing all the records together in one electronic record that all providers can access when they need it.
Q: Do I have a choice about eHealth?
A: Yes. You have the right to say “YES” or “NO” to participating in eHealth. Doctors and others involved in your care may see and share your health information through the HVHIE only if you know about the exchange or give your consent.
For most people, the potential benefits of eHealth outweigh the risks, but every person is free to make the choice that is right for him or her.
Q: Can I get access to my own medical records through eHealth?
A: By law you already have the right to get a copy of your medical records from the health care organizations that created them. Some doctors, hospitals, and other health care organizations in the Hudson Valley can give you access to your medical records online or on a computer, not just on paper – but not all of them have that capability today. However, many public and private organizations are developing eHealth tools that you may be able to use to keep and share your health information on a computer.
