Lake Regional Health System and University of Missouri Health Care are collaborating to provide patients with improved access to their health information. Patients at MU Health Care and Lake Regional Health System ambulatory clinics will share their electronic health record (EHR) and patient portal from Cerner to support a smooth transition, regardless of where they receive care.
“As the health care landscape continues to change, it’s important that we explore ways to improve the health of patients throughout Missouri,” said Jonathan Curtright, chief executive officer of MU Health Care. “We are thrilled to partner with Lake Regional Health System to bring our academic system of care and shared medical record to the Lake of the Ozarks. We are confident that this extension will ultimately enhance coordination of care across the lake region and that the patient experience will be enriched.”
Dane W. Henry, FACHE, chief executive officer of Lake Regional Health System, noted that MU Health Care and Lake Regional have a history of collaboration as founding members of the Health Network of Missouri. The collaborative network was formed in 2014 to improve access and the coordination of care for Missourians.
“Lake Regional’s involvement in the Health Network of Missouri has expanded our relationship with MU Health Care and other regionally collaborating health systems,” Henry said. “At the heart of our affiliation is a desire to use information technology to innovate better ways to care for our shared patients. Improving the flow of health information for our providers and their patients supports improved care coordination, enhanced patient experience and the goal of better health outcomes. Leveraging this relationship and working with the Tiger Institute for Health Innovation is a bold step toward the future for Lake Regional and the communities we serve.”
EHR and IT operations for MU Health Care are managed by the Tiger Institute for Health Innovation, a unique private/public partnership between Cerner and MU designed to transform health care for Missourians. The collaboration with Lake Regional follows an extension of MU Health Care and Cerner’s IT expertise to Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City earlier this year.
“Through the Tiger Institute, we continue to expand our relationship with MU Health Care and the regional health systems it extends our solutions and collaborative services to,” said Joanne Burns, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Cerner. “With the support of our technology and expertise, relationships like the one between MU Health Care and Lake Regional help doctors, nurses and staff in Missouri and across the globe improve people’s health and their health care experiences.”
Lake Regional’s clinics will transition to Cerner Millennium®, a health care IT platform designed to support and engage consumers through their health care journey across venues of care — from the doctor’s office to the hospital and clinics. The Cerner Millennium platform will provide Lake Regional staff with a digital record of their patients’ health history, providing an up-to-date view of an individual’s health and well-being. Through the new online, integrated patient portal, people will be able to securely message doctors, schedule appointments and access their health history across Lake Regional, Capital Region Medical Center and MU Health Care.
In addition to extending EHR connections with MU Health Care and Capital Region Medical Center, Lake Regional will also become a member of the Tiger Institute Health Alliance health information exchange. The health exchange connects Missouri hospitals, clinics and post-acute care providers, allowing different organizations to electronically share and use up-to-date patient records.
