A majority of Vermont residents already support health information exchange. According to a recent survey conducted by Vermont Information Technology Leaders, 77 percent of the state's residents are aware of the new statewide HIE, and about 90 percent of residents believe exchanging patient data electronically between providers better coordinates care and helps ensure providers have the most up-to-date information about their patients.
However, the nonprofit VITL seeks to expand both awareness and acceptance of the HIE through an ad campaign focused on both patients and providers.
The VITL is planning two campaigns, according to Vermont Public Radio — a $75,000 campaign focused on general awareness and a $100,000 campaign designed to encourage provider participation in the HIE.
One of the goals of the provider-focused campaign is to assuage concerns over the HIE's "global consent" privacy policies, according to the report. Under the policy, any provider could access any patient's information within in the HIE. The VITL believes the policy will allow immediate access to needed information and decrease complexity for patients and providers, while critics have claimed the policy does not adequately protect patient information.
Both campaigns are scheduled to launch in July, according to the report.
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