FAQ
What is CHARTS?
CHARTS (Connecting Health and Records Technology Systems) is a pilot project by Central Florida Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) to make critical patient medical data available to doctors in multiple regional hospitals through a common database. Real-time access to information such as doctors’ notes and lab results allows for better treatment plans. Florida Hospital and Orlando Health are participating together in this pilot system, giving authorized medical staff in both health systems access to patient medical information from any of 11 hospitals. Other community health centers, private physician practices and hospitals will join CHARTS after the initial pilot program.
Is my information private and protected?
Yes. Patient information in CHARTS is on a protected and trusted network using technology developed by General Electric Healthcare. Patient consent is obtained before medical information is shared with a treating physician. All medical information shared electronically falls under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) protection and the system has access controls.
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, was adopted in 1996 to better protect the privacy and security of health information. Medical charts, conversations between doctors and patients and billing information are considered protected information.
How does this benefit the community?
Consumers benefit because CHARTS increases patient safety, provides a quicker review of patient information and allows doctors at different hospitals to quickly exchange patient chart information, leading to faster treatment decisions. CHARTS is intended to prevent costly redundant tests and treatments.
Why are electronic medical records good for doctors?
Electronic medical records systems reduce duplications in tests and provide faster access to medical histories, allowing physicians to have a thorough record of a patient’s conditions and history. This helps doctors give better diagnoses and may alert them to any potential harmful drug interactions or side effects if a patient is unconscious or forgets to mention a specific medication already prescribed.
Why is this good for patients?
Patients benefit from knowing that the emergency room doctors have immediate and secure access to their hospital charts. This is especially important when patients are incapacitated and cannot communicate things such as, "I had that test just last week," or "I'm allergic to that medicine," or "This is like the pain I had when I went to the other emergency room yesterday." It cuts down on the potential for duplicate tests to be performed, sometimes avoiding unnecessary co-pays and expensive deductibles.
How can I be sure that my health information is available to my doctors through CHARTS?
Currently, patient information is entered into the CHARTS database when you receive care at any of the hospitals in the Florida Hospital and Orlando Health systems. Once your information has been added, doctors at both health systems will be able to access your records anytime you visit one of the emergency departments.
