Frequently Asked Questions
The DC Regional Health Information Organization (DC RHIO) is a collaborative effort being led by the District of Columbia Primary Care Association (DCPCA) and funded by the District of Columbia Department of Health (DOH) to improve the quality and efficiency of the health care system. The DC RHIO serves patients in the Washington, DC metropolitan area by managing the exchange of electronic health records among participating health care institutions.
The DC RHIO stores patient health information that is exchanged through a network of participating
hospitals and community health centers. Whenever you visit a health center or hospital, the medical information collected by your health care provider is entered into a computer. These electronic health records are then copied to a secure electronic data vault that can be accessed by providers at health centers and hospitals participating in the DC RHIO.
It makes your information readily available to your health care team - it is likely to save time at medical visits and when a consultation is needed. In the event of an emergency, health care providers often have to make decisions about your health without access to your medical information or have to depend on you to remember this information. Using the DC RHIO, your providers will be able to easily access lab tests, X-rays, medication lists, and past history to get a better understanding of your health care needs.
Initially, the DC RHIO will include basic information about you, such as your gender, age, address, and the date and location of previous visits to participating facilities, and the primary reasons you sought care. For some patients, additional information will be available, including medication information, lab results, procedure information and diagnoses. The available information will grow over time as the DC RHIO expands.
Please note that the DC RHIO blocks access to information for the specific hospital service codes and/or clinic visit types identified as mental health or substance abuse treatment. If you (the patient) have ever discussed or mentioned a mental health or substance abuse problem, diagnosis, related medication, etc., at a medical visit – that information may be noted in your record by the medical provider and will be shared in the DC RHIO system. However, access to information about visits that are specifically identified as mental health or substance abuse will be blocked in the RHIO.
The system receives information that is already stored by each of your participating health care providers. The system is designed to be secure and compliant with federal and state regulations governing health data. Only authorized users are given access to the system and the system creates an audit trail of the records they access. Access to the system is password protected. When you checked in, you should have been given a document that explains this information to you. If you haven’t received one yet, I will provide it to you.
The system uses advanced computer technology to ensure patients are correctly matched with their data.
As an extra step, your health care providers are expected to make sure this information is correct and
belongs to you during your visit.
DC RHIO is available at a few hospital and health centers during a pilot phase, and then will be expanding to other health care facilities. Long-term plans call for expansion throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Every patient who registers for care at a participating hospital, community health center or other participating health facility will be enrolled in DC RHIO.
Only providers that are directly involved in your care and, in a very limited fashion, public health authorities. Federal and state laws permit the exchange of information for these purposes.
Information will be as recent as the first time a patient is seen at a participating institution once the data exchange begins with the DC RHIO. The clinician providing care to you will be able to give you the date range for the data available in the DC RHIO. Your medical records that existed prior to the start-up of the data exchange will not be available in the DC RHIO.
Clinicians at participating facilities involved in the delivery of your health care will be able to see the same health information.
The clinicians that are providing your care may show you the information in the system that is available about you.
If you believe the information available through the DC RHIO system includes an error, please advise the clinicians that are providing care to you so that you can find out how to request a correction or amendment to the record.
