Scripps Health will deploy a clinical network from Health Gorilla to enable HIPAA-compliant access to imaging and lab data from its facilities for community physicians and their patients.

Health Gorilla is already used for lab and imaging, referrals and test results at Scripps-affiliated medical groups Scripps Mercy Physician Partners and Mercy Physicians Medical Group.

Under the agreement, the Health Gorilla Clinical Network will enable independent doctors and nurses to access Scripps' stored patient data to avoid repeat tests, drive efficiencies and quality improvement. The connectivity will enable docs to stop wasting time faxing orders back and forth, officials say, and offer a HIPAA-safe alternative to email.

Such interoperability is "critical across the board, but especially for ambulatory and hospital care, where the fast pace truly demands seamless, automated communications," says Steve Yaskin, CEO of Health Gorilla, in a statement.

The Health Gorilla network offers electronic ordering, referrals and results, consolidating patient records and allowing secure sharing of health data.

"The agreement with Health Gorilla provides improved healthcare communications among the members of our physician network and connects patient data from Scripps facilities using the latest in HIPAA-approved technology," said Dustin Brown, chief operating officer for Scripps Mercy Physician Partners, in a statement.