Price Chopper hooks up with health information exchange

Golub Corp.’s Price Chopper and Market 32 supermarket pharmacies are the first in New York to connect to the Hixny health information exchange (HIE).

Albany, N.Y.-based Hixny said Wednesday that the grocery retailer’s 82 pharmacies can now securely share prescription and vaccination data from stores in six states. Part of the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY), Hixny noted that the partnership with Price Chopper/Market 32 also makes it the first HIE in the state to provide access to pharmacy data across multiple state lines.

"Knowing how critical pharmacy information is in helping patients to manage their health was the impetus for expanding our partnership with Hixny,” according to Kathy Bryant, vice president of pharmacy for Schenectday, N.Y.-based Price Chopper/Market 32. “As advocates for patient-centered care, we believe that making prescription and immunization data securely accessible to health care providers via Hixny will close a big gap in patient care.”

The Hixny exchange serves residents, pharmacies and health care providers in 28 upstate New York counties. Of the 82 Price Chopper pharmacies now contributing data through Hixny, 53 are located in New York, and 29 are spread across Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

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In recent years, medical, pharmacy and other health care professional have transitioned to electronic health records (EHRs) to provide more accurate and comprehensive health information, as well as improved access to and easier sharing and management of that data.

For example, with patient consent, Hixny-connected health providers can view what has been prescribed, if patients have picked up their prescriptions and whether they've received routine immunizations (such as flu, pneumonia or shingles vaccines) at the pharmacy. Consumers can also access their health information via Hixny's patient portal for a more holistic view of their medical records.

"Prescription and immunization information is a critical part of patient care," Hixny CEO Mark McKinney said in a statement. "The partnership with Price Chopper pharmacies allows us to connect more people and providers with complete and up-to-date data. This is game-changing health care, and we are pleased to be at the forefront of it."

Overall, Golub owns and operates 134 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.