Emergency room physicians will soon be helping Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri (BCBSMo) to reduce care costs while improving care delivery and patient outcomes.

BCBSMo recently announced the new Medical Records For Emergency Department pilot program, which it will launch at St. Anthony's Medical Center in St. Louis. The program is the first in the state to provide ER physicians with instant access to members' clinical data – critical health information that patients are not always able to communicate to ER doctors when they need it most. The patient information will be available online via the Member Medical History system, a medical record repository that BCBSMo originally developed for internal use from its patient claims data.

"This new program will allow us to take a look at what kinds of tests a patient has received at other locations and to check on  whether the patient has followed up on suggested treatment plans," claims Ernest Ahlborn, M.D., medical director of St. Anthony's Emergency Services and Urgent Care Centers. "The information will help us in unnecessary duplication of tests and procedures for patients." Less duplication means fewer payments on claims for unnecessary services.

St. Louis University Hospital and St. John's Mercy Medical Center are also participating in the pilot program. If the pilot is successful, BCBSMo may expand the program to all of its ER doctors. For more information, visit www.bcbsmo.com.