C3HIE, a nonprofit community health information exchange in Texas, will serve as the technology foundation for the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals (TORCH) Clinically Integrated Network (CIN), which will provide Texas rural hospitals with data infrastructure and tools to expand quality and access to care.
TORCH CIN was launched in 2021 to create a high-performing statewide network of providers aligned to participate in clinical and financial integration programs, specifically to participate in value-based care initiatives and enable innovative methods of sharing contractual risk among participants. It has 27 hospitals and 51 clinics and value-based contracts with United Healthcare, Amerigroup and Aetna.
Through this effort, C3HIE will add more than 20 new hospitals to its network and expand the HIE’s reach to rural healthcare communities in Texas. This CIN infrastructure will allow rural providers across the state to establish best practices and increase coordination and quality of care, C3HIE said.
In addition to providing the data infrastructure, C3HIE will enable data aggregation capabilities for the new TORCH CIN, which will also be part of the Medicaid Aligning Technology, by Linking Interoperable Systems (ATLIS) quality payment program.
“TORCH CIN is proud to partner with C3HIE as we connect rural hospitals and equip them with the data infrastructure and tools they need to provide better care to the communities we collectively serve,” said John Henderson, president and CEO of TORCH, in a statement. .
“CINs are the future of healthcare and we are excited to partner with TORCH to strengthen rural hospitals and clinics to ensure Texans have access to sustainable healthcare in their communities,” said Jim Hoag, C3HIE Chief Operating Officer. , in a statement. “C3HIE can aggregate crucial data from CIN hospitals and clinics and incorporate patient health information from regional partners, creating a more complete and connected care experience.”
By leveraging one connection, providers at TORCH CIN will be able to have real-time access to a longitudinal patient record with the ability to view key elements such as lab results, minimizing the risk of duplicate testing, as well as the ability to leverage data. of your existing systems. The C3HIE platform will also offer full transparency of patient data with a master patient index (MPI).
“C3HIE’s long-standing dedication to rural healthcare ensures that even the smallest Texas communities will have access to the same high standards of care and innovation as their urban counterparts,” Hoag added. “Together, we are ensuring that Texans in all communities have access to high-quality health care and stronger local health care systems.”
