Vermont authorizes VITL as the state’s single Health Information Exchange. VITL files with the VT Secretary of State in May and incorporates in July.
About Vermont Information Technology Leaders
Vermont Information Technology Leaders, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that advances health care reform efforts in Vermont through the use of health information technology, and is the legislatively designated operator of the Vermont Health Information Exchange (VHIE). The VHIE is a secure, statewide data network which gives health care providers in Vermont the ability to electronically exchange and access patient data.
VITL collects and manages patient data such as demographics, laboratory results, discharge summaries, radiology reports and medication histories, from multiple sources including hospitals, primary and specialty care, Federally Qualified Health Centers, home health, long term care, designated agencies and commercial labs. With patient consent, the information in the VHIE network is available to authorized, treating providers, to help them make more informed clinical decisions at the point of care.
VITL assists Vermont health care providers with adopting and using health information technology to improve quality of care while enhancing patient safety, and reducing the cost to deliver care. VITL’s board of directors includes representatives from health plans, hospitals, physicians, other health care providers, state government, employers, and consumers.
Mission and Vision Statements
Our Mission: To collaborate with all stakeholders to expand the use of secure health information technology to improve the quality and efficiency of Vermont’s health care system.
Our Vision: A transformed health care system where health information is secure and readily available when people need it, positioning Vermont as a national example of high quality, cost effective care.
VITL TIMELINE
Since 2005, VITL has helped health care providers—ranging from independent practices to major hospital systems—adopt and use health information technology, to improve the quality of care, enhance patient satisfaction and engagement, and reduce the cost of care. Today, hundreds of doctors and nearly all of Vermont’s hospitals are already connected to the VHIE. And that network is growing. Every day.
VITL INCORPORATES
2005
EHR PROJECT BEGINS
2007
Electronic health records systems pilot project begins at five Vermont health care practices around the state.
CCIS DATA BEGINS FLOWING
2007
Data for the Blueprint for Health Chronic Care Information System (CCIS) begins flowing through the VHIE from Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center in Windsor.
EHR CONNECTIVITY LAUNCHES
2008
EHR Connectivity Service enables hospitals to deliver electronic test results directly to physician EHRs.
E-PRESCRIBING OFFERED
2009
VITL launches an electronic prescribing initiative to improve patient safety and the quality of care.
VITL NAMED REGIONAL EXTENSION CENTER
2010
VITL is identified as the Regional Extension Center for Vermont by the federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT.
400 PROVIDERS ENROLL
2010
400 providers enroll for VITL services under the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) Regional Extension Center (REC) program. 200 are live on EHRs.
75% OF PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS USING EHRs
2011
By June, 75% of Vermont’s primary care practitioners had made the switch from manual record-keeping systems to EHRs.
VITL SHIFTS TO MEDICITY
2011
VITL shifts infrastructure vendors to Medicity, ushering in the ability to more quickly develop interfaces.
2012 HOSPITAL PARTICIPATION IN VHIE
2012
Twelve of Vermont’s 14 hospitals are connected to the VHIE.
2012 CLINICAL PARTICIPATION IN VHIE
2012
More than 60 clinical sites are receiving data from the VHIE, more than double the number at the end of 2011.
2013 HOSPITAL PARTICIPATION IN VHIE
2013
13 of Vermont’s 14 hospitals, along with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and two regional hospitals that border Vermont, provide clinical data to the VHIE.
2013 CLINICAL PARTICIPATION IN VHIE
2013
More than 100 clinical locations are sending or receiving data through the VHIE.
VITLACCESS PILOT PROGRAM LAUNCHES
2013
VITL launches an extensive pilot program for a new secure provider portal called VITLAccess. At the end of the pilot, seven organizations across the state were participating.
HIGH RATE OF EHR ADOPTION
2013
Vermont reaches one of the highest rates of EHR adoption by primary care providers in the country, with more than 60% of PCPs reporting Stage 1 Meaningful Use of their EHR system.
VITL AWARDED $3M SIM GRANT
2013
VITL receives a $3M SIM grant to build the infrastructure to electronically report on quality measures, notify providers of transitions in care, and exchange relevant clinical information.
STATEWIDE ROLLOUT OF VITLACCESS
2014
Statewide rollout of VITLAccess begins in September. By December, more than 10,000 Vermonters had given consent to allow providers to view their health information on the VHIE.
VHIE EXPANDS
2014
The Population Health Grant is amended to support the expansion of the VHIE to include mental health providers, disability providers, and those who deliver long-term services and supports.
2014 CLINICAL PARTICIPATION IN VHIE
2014
With the addition of Mental Health Designated Agencies and Visiting Nurse Association member organizations, the number of clinical interfaces climbs to 480 by the end of 2014.
VITL BECOMES EHEALTH EXCHANGE COMPLIANT
2015
On October 1, 2015 VITL became eHealth Exchange Compliant, which enables the VHIE to connect with other certified health information exchanges.
GOAL OF 1,000+ SUBSCRIBERS MET
2015
VITL meets goal of 1,200+ active VITLAccess subscribers in June, 2015, and the list of subscribers continues to expand across Vermont.
VITL CONNECTS TO HIXNY
2015
VITL and Hixny Connect, the HIE serving the capital region and eastern upstate NY are connected, and will begin exchanging data in the near future.
VITL PARTNERS WITH EVENT NOTIFICATION SERVICE
2016
VITL partners with PatientPing, the State of Vermont, and Vermont's accountable care organizations to bring an event notification service for providers.
VITL PARTNERS WITH OHMD FOR SECURE TEXTING SERVICE
2016
VITL and OhMD announce a partnership to bring a secure, HIPAA compliant text messaging service to Vermont providers and their patients.
Health Information Exchange Facilitates Efficient Transfers of Care