Northern Michigan Regional Hospital is one of five hospital systems that will work together to advance the delivery of patient-focused health care across Michigan.

Michigan Health Connect, a nonprofit organization led by health systems in Michigan, created a health information exchange software program that allows patient information to be shared securely and electronically between health care providers.

“This will allow data systems to be linked together to reduce redundancy, reduce stress on patients, and reduce the number of re-tests that often slows diagnosis and treatment,” said Reezie DeVet, president and CEO of Northern Michigan Regional Hospital.

DeVet added the health information exchange is a breakthrough that will help link hundreds of hospitals and providers around the state.

Hospital systems involved in the exchange include Northern Michigan Regional Health System, Lakeland Health System, Metro Health, Spectrum Health and Trinity Health.

The service area of the health systems span 39 counties and covers 2.2 million people.

The program links 460 physician practices and community hospitals, including 115 affiliated with Northern Michigan Regional Health System.

Previously, the five partner organizations had exchanged information between physician offices and hospitals by fax. But many practices have would have problems with fax machines, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment.

“This is pioneering for Michigan, and Michigan’s health care is known worldwide,” DeVet said. “By participating in this, we are able to pull forward the information we have on record to look at baseline information that saves valuable time, money and resources."