How do I gain access to my patients' medical records?
If your patient is a member of the eHealthTrust record bank and you have been given permission by the patient to access the record, it is available to you online using a standard Internet browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari). If your EMR is linked to the health record bank, then that information will automatically appear within the EMR system.

How will I get comprehensive medical records at the point of care?
By joining eHealthTrust as a provider, you will gain immediate access to our physician applications (e.g., Web-based EMR system) and all patients that have granted you access to their health record bank.

How do I input new medical records into a patient's account?
If you have an EMR that is tied to our health record bank, the information you enter into your EMR will automatically be uploaded to your patient's health record bank. Most of the widely used EMR systems in Phoenix are connected to our health record bank. If you do not use such an EMR, or you use paper records, you will need to send a fax or Adobe PDF document to us so we can attach it to your patient's health record bank. Please contact us if your EMR vendor does not now connect to our health record bank so that we may work with them to build this connection.

How much will it cost me to use eHealthTrust?
Nothing. In fact, we will either provide you with a free Internet-accessible EMR system or, if you already have a system, we will pay you to send data from your system to the eHealthTrust. (The payments are equivalent to the cost of providing an EMR system.)

How much does this cost the patient?
Patients obtain their health record bank for free after a nominal one-time data-loading fee.

What are the advantages of eHealthTrust over other electronic medical records banks?
eHealthTrust is based upon a sustainable revenue model that does not rely upon government or foundation grants. We provide free EMRs (or payments for submitting data from existing EMRs) to physicians. Accounts to patients are free (except for the one-time, data collection fee). Revenue from optional services to patients is used to operate eHealthTrust and compensate physicians.

In addition, we have partnered with local community organizations to be sure we are focused on the needs of the community and patients, as we see this as an important factor in our success. Lastly, our model allows us to pay physicians for their participation, recognizing the costs to them in deploying EMRs.

How do I become an eHealthTrust provider?
All physicians are welcome to become eHealthTrust providers. You can join on this website by completing the online application for providers. Once complete, you will be contacted by our customer service department to set up your account.

What are the advantages of using electronic medical records over paper records?
Electronic medical records provide a more complete record of patient care than paper records. When combined with a health record bank, we achieve a comprehensive medical record that includes information from all care providers. Better and more accurate medical records lead to increased quality of care and reduced costs.

Is insurance information stored in my patient's account?
The eHealthTust account is for patient care only; therefore, it does not store insurance information. You will need to use your EMR's administrative module or another process to address payment and other patient insurance issues.

How much extra time will using eHealthTrust take per patient?
The eHealthTrust health record bank works in the background to your regular EMR activities; therefore, if you currently use an EMR, there will be little if any difference in your workflow and the time needed to use the system. For those physicians who will be deploying an EMR for the first time, the impact on your time will depend upon which system you use and how it is implemented.

Who controls and owns the data?
The patient has supreme authority and control over the medical information in his/her eHealthTrust account. This is supported by both HIPAA and the recently passed HITECH Act of 2009. We will not use or release any patient information without the consent of the patient. As always, you own and control the data in your EMR.

Are you associated with the insurance industry?
No. eHealthTrust has no current partnership with any insurance company. Its ongoing funding is derived from services provided to patients.

Are you associated with the pharmaceutical industry?
No. eHealthTrust has no current partnership with any pharmaceutical company. Its ongoing funding is derived from services provided to patients.

How will you get patient information from hospitals?
Hospital discharge summaries will be used to provide hospitalization information to the health record bank. We are working with hospitals in the Phoenix area now to develop relationships for advanced data exchange.

Hospitals are required to provide information to the eHealthTrust on patient request (under HIPAA).

In what ways will this affect my costs?
It reduces your risk as comprehensive information improves diagnosis and care.

What if I am not ready to convert to electronic records?
There is no need for you to switch to an EMR to join eHealthTrust. Through registration you will be able to access the records of any of your patients that are eHealthTrust subscribers and have given you permission to access their records. If you decide to deploy an EMR, we will then be in a position to pay you for using the EMR.

Is eHealthTrust a non-profit entity?
Although eHealthTrust is for-profit organization, we have partnered with a local, non-profit community organization, Arizona Medical Information Exchange (APIPS), who will substantially share in any of our profits while providing guidance on how we run our operations to best serve the community.

How does the community benefit?
Comprehensive medical records help doctors reduce unnecessary and duplicate testing while helping to provide better care. This reduces the healthcare costs for your community. In addition, any medical research obtained from use of the data helps everyone.

Will the information be available for public health purposes?
If patient information is de-identified and aggregated, it can provide very useful information to researchers who may be tracking diseases and working to identify best treatments. Physician identifiers will also be stripped from patient data before it is used for research.

eHealthTrust will, at your request, send information about reportable conditions that you are required by law to submit to public health authorities on your behalf. Public health researchers will be able to query the data for aggregated information that does not identify any individual patient, with patient consent.

Will the information be available for research purposes?
Yes, with patient consent, in anonymous, aggregated form.

Will my patients see my notes? Yes. The data you provide in your EMR will automatically be sent to the patient's health record bank. This is consistent with the requirements of HIPAA and the HITECH Act of 2009.

Will patients email me?
This is a function of your own EMR system and the choices you made when implementing it. Email capability is not an inherent function of eHealthTrust's health record bank.

How is this going to be paid for?
The one-time data-loading fee paid by the patient covers the cost of setting up and populating, with data, each patient's health record bank account. After that, the health record bank will be supported by patient subscriptions to optional services and through patient-neutral advertising (opt-out available at a nominal fee). Advertising will NOT be targeted by using information available within the patient's health record bank.

Can I get lab results electronically?
Yes. This will be a function of your EMR.

Can I send lab results to patients automatically when normal?
Yes. This will be a function of your EMR.

How does this reduce my risk?
Access to a complete medical record reduces the probability that a critical data point will be missed or clinical decisions will be made with incomplete data. This should help improve outcomes and, therefore, the probability of preventable medical errors.

Will participating in eHealthTrust reduce my malpractice insurance rates?
Ask your insurance provider.

Can any emergency room access patient records?
Yes. Any authorized entity such as an emergency room or ambulance will be able to access a patient's record. We will follow strict protocols on allowing such access to ensure patient confidentiality.

How can I be sure I will qualify for stimulus funds?
If you use eHealthTrust and a certified EMR system (such as those provided by eHealthTrust), you will qualify. We will assist you in submitting your paperwork for reimbursement.

Will this help me get more money from insurance companies?
The use of EMRs may result in more complete and consistent charges to insurance, which may increase your reimbursements.

Will you sell my name?
No. We will treat you with the same level of privacy as your patients.

Will it keep track of vaccinations?
Yes.

How does this affect my office work flow?
The choice of EMR and method of deployment EMR will determine its impact on your workflow. This is something you will decide with your chosen EMR vendor. If you currently have an EMR, the eHealthTrust health record bank will have little if any impact on your current workflow.

Do we have to collect money?
This is optional. If you choose, your office staff can accept credit card payments when patients sign up.