State Health Information Exchanges (HIE) come in all shapes and sizes but have one thing in common: To improve the quality, safety and efficiency of health care delivered in their states. Catch all the latest updates on our Twitter List of HIEs. Here are updates being reported from these organizations.
NGA Releases Health Care Information Road Map for States – The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Health Division hosted an event at the National Press Club to discuss its new tool, Getting the Right Information to the Right Health Care Providers at the Right Time: A Road Map for States to Improve Health Information Flow Between Providers. NGA (@NatlGovsAssoc) gathered health policy experts to discuss the road map, which was developed to help governors and their senior state leaders drive forward policies that support the seamless flow of clinical patient health care information between providers while protecting patient privacy. The goal is to help facilitate nationwide interoperability.
READ: @NatlGovsAssoc Road Map for States to Improve Health Information Flow Between Providers. https://t.co/73HiEtLWDP #HealthIT #NGA2016 pic.twitter.com/38gHJAFliG
— ONC (@ONC_HealthIT) December 9, 2016
The Massachusetts Health Information HIway (Mass HIway)
The Massachusetts Health Information Highway (#MassHIway) offers doctors’ offices, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, skilled nursing facilities, and other healthcare organizations a way to securely and seamlessly transmit vital data electronically. The Mass HIway is open to all interested providers, hospitals, and other organizations within the healthcare community regardless of affiliation, location, or differences in technology.
Governor Baker Establishes Massachusetts Digital Healthcare Council – The Baker-Polito Administration recently announced the creation of a Digital Healthcare Council, a comprehensive public-private partnership that will advise the administration on the future of the Commonwealth’s digital healthcare industry. The council stems from the momentum of the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative, launched in January 2016. The council convenes leaders across the digital healthcare industry, including technology, healthcare delivery, insurance, medical devices, the life sciences, academia, and government, to advise on ways new digital technologies can improve healthcare in the Commonwealth, grow jobs, and reduce healthcare costs.
Mass HIway likely to see Changes in the Near Future – The Mass HIway is now likely looking at some changes in the near future. On Friday November 4, 2016 the Executive Office of Health and Information Services released proposed regulations specific to the requirement for all providers to implement a fully interoperable electronic health record that connects to the Mass HIway, and the establishment of a mechanism that allows patients to opt-in or opt-out of the MassHIway. The proposed regulations require specific providers to connect to the MassHIway between 2017 and 2019, while other types of providers will be required to connect at a date to be specified, with at least one-year notice (and no earlier than January 2018).
Health Share Exchange of Southeastern Pennsylvania (HSX)
HealthShare Exchange (@HealthShareExch) is the greater Philadelphia region’s health information exchange for the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region. HSX is a unique, membership-dues-supported nonprofit formed by the Delaware Valley’s hospitals/health systems and healthcare insurers that links the electronic medical record systems of different hospital health systems, medical centers, and clinics — and the claims data of healthcare insurers — to make this information accessible at inpatient and outpatient points of care, including medical practice offices.
Fourth Annual HSX Offsite Event Brings New Directors, President, Pop. Health Discussion, Risk Assessment Tool Presentation, HIE Champs, and Forward-Looking Goals – On November 8th, 2016, HSX once again held its annual offsite event for its board of trustees, staff, and key guests. The daylong retreat serves as a review of the state of the exchange, a goal-setting meeting, and recognition of contributors to the previous year’s milestones. Each year at the offsite, HSX includes innovative presenters and honors HIE Champions who contributed to progress in the Delaware Valley’s HIEthrough work at their own organizations.
California Association of Health Information Exchanges (CAHIE)
The California Association of Health Information Exchanges (@info_cahie) is a collection of individuals and organizations focused on securely sharing health information. CAHIE’s mission is to facilitate and promote the secure exchange of information throughout California to improve the quality, safety and affordability of health services.
St. Joseph Hoag Health Joins the California Integrated Data Exchange – Cal INDEX recently announced that it has joined with St. Joseph Hoag Health, the largest healthcare provider in Orange County, to deliver a single statewide HIE that allows payers and providers throughout California to seamlessly and securely access patient health information to improve care delivery.
Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN)
In October 2010 Wisconsin officially announced its intention to designate WISHIN (@WISHIN_Pulse), a not-for-profit organization formed by the Wisconsin Hospital Association, Wisconsin Medical Society, Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality, and Wisconsin Health Information Organization, as the State-designated entity to govern statewide HIE. DE on October 25, 2010. WISHIN is responsible for implementing Wisconsin’s Strategic and Operational Plan. The plan requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and emphasizes ongoing development of government and policy structures.
More than Numbers – WISHIN reflects on some of the successes of this year and takes a look ahead at the opportunities in the next. Their theme for the year was “moving to the next level” and they’re happy to report that, with the help of clients, partners, and readers, they have been able to see this theme through in many different ways.
 Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN)
Georgia Health Information Network (@GeorgiaHIE) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a healthier Georgia by facilitating the use and secure exchange of electronic health information so providers have the information they need at the point of care. GaHIN’s two products, GeorgiaDirect and Georgia ConnectedCare, connect providers statewide and nationally and are free for credentialed, authorized Georgia users.
Denise Hines Receives Phoenix Award for Community Leadership – Denise Hines, DHA, PMP, FHIMSS, CEO of eHealth Services Group and Executive Director of GaHIN, received the Phoenix Community Leader of the Year Award at the 2016 Health IT Leadership Summit. Dr. Hines was recognized for her instrumental role in advancing healthcare connectivity in Georgia to ensure physicians have the information they need to deliver quality care. Dr. Hines is also currently the chair-elect of National HIMSS.
Colorado Regional Health Information Exchange (CORHIO)
CORHIO (@CORHIO) manages one of the country’s largest and most successful health information exchange (HIE) networks and works to improve healthcare through the use of information technology and data exchange.
Important Announcement: Funding Opportunity to Join HIE Expanded, Limited Time to Participate – The Colorado Care Connections Program, a partnership between CORHIO and the Department of Healthcare Financing and Policy (@CHCPF) has been expanded, making funds available to a large number of organizations to participate in the health information exchange. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing is funding the effort to enhance the flow of clinical information through secure health networks for the purposes of enhancing care coordination, improving health outcomes and reducing costs attributed to unnecessary and redundant testing, hospitalizations, or delays in care that contribute to disease progression or avoidable complications.
Michigan – Great Lakes Health Connect (GLHC)
Great Lakes Health Connect (@GLHC_HIE) is one of the largest and most successful Health Information Exchanges in the country and is growing rapidly. GLHC is committed to creating care-connected communities across Michigan. Their vision is to enhance patient experience, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs across the continuum of care.
Happy Holidays from GLHC – GLHC Executive Director, Doug Dietzman, takes a moment to thank all who have collaborated and contributed to the success of Michigan’s HIE and looks forward to achieving new milestones in the coming year. He hopes all will have a joyful and restful holiday season. Don’t miss Doug on our Day 12 of our Christmas posts for his 2017 prediction!
Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)
VITL (@VITLVT) is the nonprofit organization that advances health care reform efforts in Vermont through the use of health information technology, and is the legislatively designated operator of the state’s Vermont Health Information Exchange (VHIE).
VITL Adds Home Health Agencies to PatientPing – VITL and PatientPing, Inc. recently announced the immediate availability of home health agency patient encounter notifications to the PatientPing care community. Since April, VITL has been providing PatientPing with patient encounter (admission, discharge, and transfer) messages from all of Vermont’s hospitals using existing connections to the Vermont Health Information Exchange. PatientPing has used these messages to deliver an average of 8,000 notifications a month directly to providers around the state who are part of the PatientPing community.
VITL is Hiring – Join this fast growing health it company and help build a connected network that informs health care decisions. VITL is currently looking for a Project Manager and a Technical Support Services Manager.
VITL Appoints Accounting Manager – VITL recently named Bonnie Losty as its new accounting manager. Losty joined VITL after working as a financial reporting manager for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and as the internal audit manager at Union Bank. She was employed at Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Company (UTC) in Connecticut, for 12 years, and at UTC headquarters for four years in various accounting positions.
Utah Health Information Network (UHIN)
UHIN (#UHIN) has been in operation since 1993 beginning as a claims “post office.” Today it also operates the Clinical Health Information Exchange (cHIE), which empowers doctors and patients to work together for safer, better-coordinated care by making crucial information available to doctors at the point of care.
Wasatch Peak Family Practice Contributing Transcription Data to the CHIE! – UHIN recently announced that Wasatch Peak Family Practice began sharing transcription information with the cHIE on November 30, 2016. Wasatch Peak is a four-physician clinic in Layton that offers general and preventive care for children and adults.
Arizona – AZ Health-eConnection (AZHeC)
Operated by AzHeC (@azhec), The Network is Arizona’s non-profit statewide health information exchange (HIE) that enables improvements in care coordination and quality by electronically linking health care organizations across the state through a single connection and filling gaps in patient information.
Funding Opportunity not to be Missed – The HIE Subsidy Program, an Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) funded program and operated by Arizona Health-e Connection (AzHeC) launched in 2014, was recently expanded to increase participation among hospitals and encourage participation among community providers. The expanded program offers more funding for hospitals and now adds eligible community providers who meet AHCCCS criteria for the program.
Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE)
Indiana Health Information Exchange (@IndianaHIE) operates the nation’s largest health information exchange, providing a secure, robust and interoperable health information technology network that connects over 150 hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, community health clinics and other healthcare providers.
Top Ten Reasons to Work at IHIE – IHIE was recently named one of Modern Healthcare’s BEST Places to Work for the second year in a row. They pride themselves on the work they do. But more importantly, they pride themselves on their people. Read why you should join their team.
HIE Organizations Upcoming Events
2017 State Healthcare IT Connect Summit (@HealthITCONNECT)
What:Â 8th Annual State Healthcare IT Connect SummitÂ
When:Â March 28-29, 2017
Where: Hilton Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD
HASA 2017 Healthcare Data Reporting ConferenceÂ
What:Â 2017 HASA Data Reporting ConferenceÂ
When: January 17, 2017
Where: Pearl Studio, San Antonio, TX