About EKCITA

The East Kern County Integrated Technology Association (“EKCITA”) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, formed via a federal research initiative and through a grassroots community effort in 2006. Under the management of Believe Health, LLC, the purpose of EKCITA is to demonstrate secure and appropriate sharing of electronic health files and clinical data for public health, patient care, and research; and to develop, improve, and assist in the implementation of health information technology for all physicians, caregivers, health-related institutions and consumers in, but not limited to, SE Kern. 

EKCITA is not a typical Health Information Organization (“HIO”) in that it also holds the licenses for the electronic health record (“EHR") software solutions installed at various rural health clinics and private practices in the region; holds the license for a custom designed, web-based personal health record (“PHR”); and is responsible for the open source health information exchange (“HIE”) system designed by the local providers. EKCITA’s HIE will allow for not only the secure transmission of data, but will also support population based quality improvement and research studies.

At this time, EKCITA is comprised of a local critical access hospital, medical group, 6 private provider offices, and 3 rural health clinics. EKCITA is exchanging patient demographic information, encounter data, lab results, radiology transcription reports, and medication and allergy lists. The functionality of EKCITA’s HIE is growing on a daily basis as lessons are learned to improve its process.