FAQs related to Providers

Health care providers can view the medical records of their patients. These providers may include:

• medical doctors
• medical staff
• pharmacists
• care managers
• dentists
• mental health providers
• home health care nurses
• physical therapists
• emergency medical services providers
• other health care professionals covered under HIPAA.  

Information is also available to authorized administrative staff in organizations that provide health care, to staff at the Vermont Department of Health for public health purposes, and to staff at public and private health insurance providers.

There are several ways to opt-out of having your information viewable to your providers in the Vermont Health Information Exchange: 

• Call the Vermont Health Information Exchange Hotline at 888-980-1243
• Fill out an opt out form online
• Download, print, complete this opt out form, and mail it to VITL, Attention: VHIE Support, 150 Dorset St., Suite 245, PMB 358, So. Burlington, VT 05403 or fax it to 802-651-4208

You can request a copy of your records available in the Vermont Health Information Exchange by requesting a record request form. Once you have obtained your record, you can share it with your providers.

The best way to find out if your provider sends information to the Vermont Health Information Exchange is to check this list of contributing providers.

Yes, there are some notes in the Vermont Health Information Exchange. These include notes from health care providers, such as patient care summaries, radiology reports, transcribed reports, operation notes, and discharge instructions.

Yes, in the event of a medical emergency where a provider believes their patient is experiencing a condition that poses an immediate threat to their health which requires immediate medical attention, they may access their patient’s health record in the Vermont health Information Exchange. This is referred to as a “break the glass” record search, and it is permitted for patients who have opted out. Break the glass events are rare and each time they occur VITL performs an audit to ensure the access was appropriate. The patient or their legal representative must be notified of this access as soon as reasonably possible.

Some information in the Vermont Health Information Exchange is shared with out-of-state providers through eHealth Exchange and through qualified national event notification systems that notify providers when their patient has been admitted, discharged, or transferred from a care setting (like an emergency room or inpatient hospital) or has experienced a significant health event.

If you opt-out of participating in the Vermont Health Information Exchange, your providers will continue accessing information about your health and health care the same way they have in the past. This may involve some combination of electronic medical records, fax, and phone.