Gov. Blagojevich Announces Launch of Web portal to Keep Patients in State Programs Safer

           Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has launched an improved version of a secure Web portal that will keep patients safe and potentially save lives by reducing the risk of medical mix-ups.  The Medical Electronic Data Interchange (MEDI) system will allow doctors treating Medicaid patients to view patient information that includes medication and immunization histories, previous lab orders, hospitalizations and other medical procedures.
            By providing more information to doctors, the program should decrease redundant care and reduce medical errors. Studies have shown that medical mix-ups result in hospital stays and emergency room visits.  Last year, more than 1.7 million patients filled more than 21.8 million prescriptions through the state’s Medicaid programs.
            A recent study done by Pediatrics found that medication mix-ups harm approximately one out of 15 hospitalized children.  Many of these medical errors could be prevented if doctors had been able to view other medications their patients might be taking.  This new Web portal will help reduce the number of medical mix-ups by allowing doctors to view their patients’ previous medical procedures, immunizations and medications.