HealthInfoNet is an electronic Health Information Exchange or HIE. HIE's are now in use in a number of countries, such as New Zealand, Australia, in some Canadian provinces and are now being built across the United States. Maine happens to be one of the first states in this country to establish a statewide Health Information Exchange.

More and more doctors and hospitals are transitioning from paper-based medical records to electronic medical records. Health Information Exchanges such as HealthInfoNet allow information from these records to be quickly and efficiently shared among your medical care team, even if members of the team are in different buildings or communities across Maine. Nearly everyone is concerned about the rising cost of health care and medical errors. Studies have shown that it is expensive and inefficient for doctors and other caregivers in various locations to share information from paper medical records. This can result in doctors ordering tests that have already been performed, or writing prescriptions that may counteract with medications you already are taking. Additionally, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina reminded many Americans about the risks of relying on paper records that can be destroyed and lost forever after a storm, flood or fire.

Yes. In 2009, the Maine Legislature amended the state's health care privacy law to expressly reference electronic health information exchanges and clarify that health care providers are permitted to disclose health information to health information exchanges. The Maine Attorney General's office and the Department of Health and Human Services initiated the request for a clarification. The federal privacy law (HIPAA) was also recently amended by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to expressly reference health information exchanges and make health information exchanges subject to many of the privacy and security requirements of HIPAA. Like the state privacy law, federal law permits disclosures of health information to health information exchanges as long as certain requirements are met.

No. If you receive care from a doctor or hospital that is participating in HealthInfoNet, you do not need to take any action. Key information from your electronic medical record will be automatically provided to HealthInfoNet.

You may find out this information by visiting Our Participants or by asking your doctor or hospital if they are participating.

HealthInfoNet is a large system being introduced over a period of years across the state. It may take several years for our system to become available to your doctor and hospital. You should talk directly with your caregivers if you have any questions or concerns about how your medical information is shared.

No, HealthInfoNet uses a secure private network. Personal medical information gathered and exchanged through HealthInfoNet will not be put on the web. This network is protected by the most advanced security systems available and audited by third parties on a regular basis.

HealthInfoNet is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006. It is an independent organization, meaning that it is not owned by insurance companies, employers or the government. The members of HealthInfoNet's board of directors and staff all live and get health care in Maine. Board members include doctors, hospitals officials, consumers, public health and business leaders.

HealthInfoNet can help your medical care team better coordinate your care by giving them access to the most recent, accurate and complete information available. This will improve patient safety and help your medical care team make more informed decisions about your care.

HealthInfoNet helps laboratories more quickly report certain conditions, such as E. coli, Tuberculosis, Lyme Disease, and food poisoning to public health experts at Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC). Maine CDC keeps reported information private as required by law.

Your HealthInfoNet record will include information about conditions, diagnoses, or health problems you may have. This includes prescription medicines ordered by your doctors, lab results, and procedure results like x-rays. HealthInfoNet will also include certain identifier information needed to be sure that health information is correctly entered into your record. You may be asked for your social security number, but it's your choice to share it or not.

Your HealthInfoNet record does not contain certain data. This includes information from substance abuse treatment facilities, information from mental health providers and HIV test results.

Only your medical care team can see your HealthInfoNet record. These are people with a "need to know" this information in order to provide you with care. Providers must provide a valid logon, a correct password, and confirmation that they are currently involved in your care. The HealthInfoNet system keeps track of everyone who accesses your record, and what information they viewed.

Family doctors in towns and cities across Maine support HealthInfoNet. Here's why: "Taking good care of patients depends on having good information," says Dan Mingle, M.D., a family doctor from South Paris. "Using computers in my office is the first step, since I can quickly see a patient's medical problems, medicines, and tests that are due. But, I also need to be able to give and get information from specialists, labs, and pharmacies. HealthInfoNet allows this. And, if my patient goes to the hospital, doctors there can see how I've been taking care of her."

HealthInfoNet increases your doctor's access to important medical information that will support more informed decision-making about your care---and help reduce the likelihood of a medical error. HealthInfoNet will also help laboratories report data more quickly to public health experts at Maine CDC. Quicker reporting of certain diseases and conditions can help prevent the spread of disease. It also is important in the event of a natural disaster or bioterrorism incident. This benefits us all.

You can choose not to take part in HealthInfoNet at any time. If you do not want to participate in HealthInfoNet, please fill out and submit an Opt Out Election Form. This form may be completed online by going to the Opt Out Page or by printing a paper copy of the form and mailing it to HealthInfoNet, 125 Presumpscot Street, Box 8, Portland, ME 04103.

When you elect to opt out of participating in HealthInfoNet none of your medical information will be maintained in the system. It is important for you to understand that if you make this choice it may prevent your medical care team from getting the current and complete information to care for you. This also may make it more difficult for them to coordinate your care with other providers.

If you choose to use the on-line electronic form (available at the Opt Out Page) to submit your opt out election, your decision will be processed within 24 hours. An e-mail will be sent to you informing you that HealthInfoNet has received your form and that your medical information will not be included in the system. Any medical information about you that HealthInfoNet receives prior to getting your opt out election form will be deleted when your opt out election is activated.

Opt out election forms received at HealthInfoNet by regular mail will be processed within five to seven business days. This means that your medical information will continue to be included in the HealthInfoNet system for up to seven working days after we receive your form via regular mail. HealthInfoNet will confirm in writing when we have received your form. All of your medical information contained in HealthInfoNet prior to receiving your opt out form will be deleted once the your opt out election is activated.

You may resume your participation in HealthInfoNet at any time. To do so, simply visit the Opt In Page and complete the online Opt In form. If you do not feel comfortable completeing the electronic form, please call the following toll-free number: 1-866-592-4352 and a form will be mailed to you. Please note that it will take up to seven business days after HealthInfoNet receives your form for your record to be activated. Your medical information will then be added to our system as you receive care, pick up prescriptions or have laboratory tests performed. HealthInfoNet will not include information about care you received during the period you opted out of our system.

No. You are automatically a part of HealthInfoNet if your doctor or hospital participate in the system.

Future plans call for you being able to request reports that will show who has accessed your information. It will be several years, however, before our system will be completed and this feature will be activated. In the meantime, you should contact your medical care team for this information.

Our system is being designed so that individuals may access their HealthInfoNet record. It will be several years, however, before our system will be completed and this feature will be activated.

When access is made available to individuals, HealthInfoNet will provide you with the information you need to work with your doctor(s) to address these concerns.