Sharing Health Data Can Help in Emergency

Michael McCloskey

Whether you live in the Virgin Islands or just vacation there, sharing information with doctors in the territory just got easier.

The Virgin Islands has launched its health information exchange ahead of schedule. The secure electronic network allows doctors, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and other providers to share information if they have the patient’s consent. Sharing records electronically can avert duplicate testing and could save time in an emergency.

AARP helped plan the program, which may prove especially useful to Virgin Islanders seeking medical treatment on the U.S. mainland. Visitors, too, can benefit once their home states’ health information networks comply with standards enabling communication nationwide.

For details, go to healthvi.org/hie.