C3HIE, a nonprofit, community health information exchange in Texas, will serve as the technology foundation for the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH) clinically integrated network (CIN), which will provide rural hospitals in Texas with data infrastructure and tools for expanding care quality and access.
TORCH CIN was launched in 2021 to create a high-performing statewide network of aligned providers to engage in clinical and financial integration programs, specifically to participate in value-based care initiatives and enable innovative methods for 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 be adding more than 20 new hospitals to its network and expanding the HIE’s reach into rural healthcare communities in Texas. This CIN infrastructure will enable rural providers across the state to establish best practices and increase care coordination and quality, 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 Aligning Technology, by Linking Interoperable Systems (ATLIS) Medicaid 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 for 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 happy to partner with TORCH to strengthen rural hospitals and clinics to ensure that Texans have access to sustainable healthcare in their communities,” said Jim Hoag, COO of C3HIE, in a statement. “C3HIE is able to aggregate crucial data from CIN hospitals and clinics, and incorporate patient health information from regional partners, creating a more comprehensive and connected care experience.”
Leveraging one connection, providers in the 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 from their existing systems. The C3HIE platform will also offer full patient data transparency with a Master Patient Index (MPI).
“C3HIE’s long-standing dedication to rural healthcare ensures that even the smallest communities in Texas will have access to the same high standards of care and innovation as their urban counterparts,” Hoag added. “Together, we’re ensuring that Texans in every community have access to high-quality healthcare and stronger local healthcare systems.”
