The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) has gone live with data exchange statewide. CRISP officials call it a "major step" toward the delivery of critical health information to the right place at the right time.

Organizations that are now participating in the HIE include:

• Holy Cross Hospital
• Suburban Hospital
• Montgomery General Hospital
• Community Radiology (a RadNet partner)
• Advanced Radiology (a RadNet partner)
• American Radiology Services
• Quest Diagnostics
• Laboratory Corporation of America

Several more organizations will connect in the next few weeks.

"We at Holy Cross Hospital believe a statewide health information exchange can help make care safer and more efficient for Marylanders," said Kevin J. Sexton, president and CEO of Holy Cross Hospital. "We are delighted to join CRISP, state government and other healthcare providers in getting Maryland to this important milestone."

Additionally, all 48 Maryland hospitals have recently committed to sharing data with the statewide HIE. This commitment covers 11,175 inpatient beds, from Garrett County to the Eastern Shore.
 
Other hospitals, physician practices, and clinics will be coming online before the end of the year, including many of the state's federally qualified health clinics, which predominantly serve Medicaid, uninsured and other underserved patients. 

CRISP will be expanding the kinds of data the HIE is able to exchange as participation grows, from hospital discharge summaries, lab results and radiology results to medical documents that contain more complete medical information, sometimes referred to as continuity of care documents, or CCDs.

"Today's announcement, while exciting evidence of the hard work of numerous stakeholders, is not an endpoint," said David Horrocks, president of CRISP. Rather it's the beginning of a process that will give physicians new and more effective tools to provide the best care to their patients."

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has set a goal for the state to become a national leader in health information technology by 2010 by developing a safe and secure statewide HIE and promoting the adoption of electronic medical records among providers.
 
"This is a major step in developing an electronic system that protects individual privacy while improving the quality of healthcare and controlling costs," said Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown. "Soon, every Marylander will be able to enjoy the benefits of having their critical medical information delivered with speed and accuracy to the point of care, avoiding medical mistakes especially in case of an emergency."