What is InfoSolutions?
InfoSolutions is a medical information network developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. Information in InfoSolutions cannot be accessed by the general public. Only authorized healthcare providers may access this information for purposes of providing medical treatment to a particular patient.
What types of information are available to physicians via InfoSolutions?
Lab results, medication history, allergy information, immunization data, and visit encounter information.
How does Blue Cross/InfoSolutions obtain this information?
A portion of the information is transferred from the claims processing system; medication information comes from participating pharmacies; clinical information is contributed by participating laboratories and hospitals; and additional information is contributed by contracted physicians.
Can sensitive data be accessed through InfoSolutions?
Sensitive data such as drug abuse, psychiatric care and HIV data is filtered by InfoSolutions. This sensitive data can be accessed only by the healthcare provider who enters this information in InfoSolutions.
Why did Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama create InfoSolutions?
InfoSolutions provides a benefit to our customers as well as to the providers we work with. InfoSolutions can improve patient safety and reduce unnecessarily duplicated medical tests and procedures.
How does InfoSolutions benefit the patient?
InfoSolutions gives physicians access to information about past medical care. It can let them know if a patient is already taking a medication and help them make a more informed decision about how to treat the current illness. It could also help determine if patients are due for routine procedures such as mammograms, pap smears, PSAs, etc. And it can provide a child’s physician with a list of immunizations to make sure the child is up-to-date on his or her vaccinations.
Who has access to a patient’s records on InfoSolutions?
Contracted healthcare providers who have been granted authorization by Blue Cross can access InfoSolutions.
Is the patient information in InfoSolutions limited to only Blue Cross customers?
The benefits and information provided through InfoSolutions are much more complete if the patient is a Blue Cross customer, but the patient information in InfoSolutions is not limited to them.
What enables physicians to access information in InfoSolutions?
Authorized physicians may enter and store medical information in InfoSolutions and use a computer to view it. Physicians are responsible for obtaining any required patient consents before allowing InfoSolutions to give other authorized medical providers access to a patient’s medical information for purposes of providing medical treatment. After obtaining consent, physicians may also view information about their patients that has been stored by other authorized medical providers for the purpose of providing medical treatment to the patient. Generally, the same patient consent that allows physicians to access medical information in paper form and to transfer that information to other healthcare providers will allow authorized medical providers to view medical information in InfoSolutions for purposes of providing medical treatment.
Can patients view their records through InfoSolutions?
Patients should contact their physicians to view or obtain a printed copy of their records stored on InfoSolutions. This is the same process patients currently follow to get copies of paper records.
How can patients stop doctors from having access to information in InfoSolutions?
Patients may call 1 800 206-1054. The request will be handled promptly and confidentially.
How do patients know if a provider has input or retrieved medical information?
Patients may call 1 800 206-1054 to request a report showing which providers have accessed the database for input or retrieval of medical records.
If a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama customer receives medical care outside the state of Alabama, will the medical information be available to his/her local doctor who participates in InfoSolutions?
Yes, once the claim has been filed with Blue Cross, the information will be in the InfoSolutions database.
How does InfoSolutions meet the needs of different types of doctors such as specialists?
This information benefits all types of doctors. Doctors have access to patients' lab and medical history and the prescriptions they are taking.
How is the data secured?
Data is encrypted when it is transferred to and from a physician’s office.
What will prohibit an individual from accessing a patient’s data at random?
No information can be accessed through InfoSolutions without a Blue Cross assigned User ID and password, and other key patient information. In addition, each participating physician receives a monthly report listing any request for medical data made with their User ID. Patients can request a report listing any access of their medical data by calling 800 206-1054.