Nanticoke Memorial Hospital Goes Live on DHIN: DHIN Becomes the Nation’s First Statewide Health Information Exchange With 100% Acute Care Hospitals Delivering Results

DOVER, DE – JUNE 17, 2013 – In May, when Nanticoke Memorial Hospital (NMH) began posting its patient reports and test results to the Delaware Health Information Network, it was a “first” not only for the organization, but for the nation. With those first key strokes, DHIN became the first health information exchange in the country to have all acute care hospitals in its state delivering medical results to its statewide network.

“Reaching 100% acute care hospital participation in just six years is just a tremendous achievement for the healthcare community and people of Delaware. It is a great thrill to be the first in the country to reach this milestone,” said DHIN Executive Director, Dr. Jan Lee. “This provides a more complete and comprehensive community health record in Delaware, speeding care, saving potential duplication of efforts and, most importantly, helping to save lives. We appreciate how seriously Nanticoke Memorial Hospital took this project and applaud them in their efforts to complete the circle for the people of Delaware.”

Award-winning NMH, located in Seaford, Delaware, serves residents of Sussex County as a community hospital with a medical staff of 120 active and community affiliate physicians who provide care in nearly 40 specialties. The facility has a nationally certified stroke program that is designated a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission; a recognized cardiology program; comprehensive cancer care center and a Level III Trauma Center.

Participation of all six acute care hospitals will become even more powerful later this year when DHIN launches an alert system that advises the more than 2,400 practicing physicians in the state utilizing DHIN (nearly 100%) when a patient from their practice is admitted to or discharged from the hospital.

“This alert system will help doctors learn about their patients’ transitions in care and help hasten the speed at which follow-up care can be administered,” said Lee. “This will be tremendously beneficial for empowering primary care physicians with an important tool in directing the care of their patients.”

For more information about DHIN, visit www.dhin.org. While on the site, visitors are encouraged to register for a monthly newsletter that provides updates on programs, services and milestones.

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About the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN)

The Delaware Health Information Network is the first live, statewide health information network in the nation.  Launched in 2007, today it serves all of Delaware’s acute care hospitals and approaching 100% of the State’s medical providers.* More than 9,000,000 clinical results and reports are posted on DHIN each year. Total patient records in the system now exceed 1.4 million including patients from all 50 states. For more information about DHIN visit www.DHIN.org or call 302-678-0220.  Please also visit us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (@DHIN_hie).