Charleston Area Medical Center (“CAMC”) participates in CommonWell Health Alliance® services (“CommonWell”), a national network of organizations aligned to streamline the secure sharing of health data with a goal of improving care coordination and health outcomes. When you are seen at a CAMC facility, you are automatically enrolled in CommonWell, unless you opt-out through the process noted below.
This means your healthcare providers will have access to your health information regardless of where you receive care, and whether that care takes place within CAMC or somewhere else. This removes barriers and cumbersome steps, giving your healthcare providers the information they need to facilitate more comprehensive, coordinated, and improved care.
The security of your health data is one of our most important priorities. Your personal health information is only made available via appropriate technical, administrative, and physical security safeguards to the permitted recipients participating in CommonWell.
Participation in CommonWell is not a condition to receiving care at CAMC.
The types of health information that we will share through CommonWell include:
• Records of allergies and drug reactions
• Medication history
• Procedure records
• Record of problems and diagnoses
• Notes from your care team
The types of health information that we will NOT share through CommonWell are:
• Behavioral health records
• Psychotherapy notes
• Drug and Alcohol treatment records
The potential benefits of CommonWell participation include:
• Allowing your primary care providers, specialists, hospitalists, and other clinicians who participate in CommonWell, more secure and near instant access to your important health information to coordinate your care.
• Reducing time required to track down test results and other health information, increasing the time your healthcare providers can spend on your care, and potentially removes the need to duplicate tests.
• In the event of an emergency, medical staff can immediately access your allergies, medication list, and other health information, helping to expedite your care.
• Electronic sharing is more secure than fax or paper files, which can easily be lost or viewed by individuals without proper authorization.
If you wish to opt out of CommonWell, please complete the Opt-Out form.
If you previously opted out and wish to change your decision, you may complete the Opt-In form.
Either of the forms may be completed online or may be printed from our website and mailed to:
Charleston Area Medical Center
Attn: Health Information Management, HIE
130-138 57th Street
Charleston, WV 25304