State HIE News and Updates 8-18-20

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Posted By: Annmarie Budniak August 18, 2020

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.

HHS Announces Investments for Health Information Exchanges to Strengthen their Ability to Support State and Local Public Health Agencies
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity to expand and accelerate innovative uses of electronic health information via health information exchanges (HIEs) to support state and local public health agencies. Strengthening health data exchange and use between HIEs and state and local public health agencies will help communities to better prevent, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies, including disasters and pandemics such as COVID-19.

The Hawai`i Health Information Exchange (Hawai`i HIE)

The Hawai‘i HIE is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization established in 2006 to enhance care coordination, to improve the health outcomes of Hawai‘i’s patients and reduce the cost of care for both patients and healthcare providers. To support these goals, in September 2009, Hawai‘i HIE was designated by the state to develop a seamless, effective, and secure statewide health information exchange that ultimately links to the nationwide health information network. Hawai‘i Health Information Exchange is a robust, interoperable data exchange system that enables all health care providers, health plans, clinics, and hospitals to contribute and access complete health information with confidence. This secure exchange empowers participants to improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of whole-person care, enhancing health outcomes for patients and reducing health care costs for the community.

July 2020 Announcements – HHIE’s July announcements include Patient Health Information Exchange even more critical during the pandemic, HHIE is proud to welcome another member to its executive management team, Albert Ogata and much more.

California – Manifest Medex

Manifest MedEx is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health information exchanges (HIEs), combining 11.7 million claims records from Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross and 5 million clinical patient records from 150 participating partners. Manifest MedEx supports physicians, nurses, hospitals and health plans in sharing critical health information to ensure that patients receive the safest, highest-quality care possible. The California Integrated Data Exchange and Inland Empire Health Information Exchange merged to create Manifest Medex.

Carecom Joins Lyniates Co-Creation Lab to Address Interoperability – Lyniate, a global healthcare data interoperability company, announced a partnership with CareCom, a provider of terminology services management, to drive interoperability innovation. The two companies are collaborating in Lyniate’s Co-Creation Lab, a design environment that facilitates the advancement of cutting-edge health IT. The initial Co-Creation Lab project focuses on the development of a tailored data-normalization solution for shared customer Manifest MedEx, California’s largest nonprofit health data network, and will be scalable, adaptable, and easily replicated for other healthcare organizations looking for customized integration support for health information exchange (HIE).

North Carolina Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA)

In 2015 the General Assembly of North Carolina established a state-managed Health Information Exchange Authority (NC HIEA) to oversee and administer the NC Health Information Exchange Network. The NC HIEA is housed within the NC Department of Information Technology’s (DIT) Government Data Analytics Center (GDAC). The NC HIEA operates North Carolina’s state-designated health information exchange, NC HealthConnex, a secure, standardized electronic system in which providers can share important patient health information. The use of this system promotes the access, exchange and analysis of health information.

North Carolina’s HIE Delivers Real-time Patient Alerts to Providers; Adds Web-based Care Coordination Tool – Health care providers in North Carolina will now have one more tool in their toolkit to help improve care coordination for their patients. NC HealthConnex, the state-designated health information exchange (HIE), is now offering real-time event notifications to participants through NC*Notify, giving them more detailed information about patient populations.

California – SacValley MedShare

SacValley MedShare (@svmshie) is a member of the California Association of Health Information Exchanges (CAHIE) and serves the 16-county region of California, north of Sacramento, which includes the North Central Valley and the surrounding mountainous terrain. Its region is largely rural and mountainous, with travel limited by climate and season in much of the area. Good communication is critical to coordinate care between primary care, specialists, hospital providers, and skilled nursing care facilities that fulfill a vital role in post-discharge care for many patients.

RCHC Data Contribution – Redwood Community Health Coalition has gone live with contributing ADT (Admit, Discharge, Transfer) messages to the SacValley MedShare HIE.

healtheConnect Alaska

healtheConnect Alaska (@akehealth) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, organized and managed by Alaskans and tasked by the State of Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services, to provide safe, secure transport for health information in order to improve quality and safety of patient care and increase efficiencies for hospitals and medical practices. healtheConnect Alaska provides health information exchange and direct secure messaging services to more than 20 hospitals and 450 healthcare organizations across Alaska.

Leap Orbit, healtheConnect Alaska Partner on Digital Consent Management to Enable Behavioral Health Data Exchange – Leap Orbit, a provider of strategic interoperability solutions, announced a partnership with healtheConnect Alaska to improve care coordination among medical and behavioral health providers. Together, the parties have implemented an innovative, streamlined electronic consent process enabling a patient’s entire care team to access her/his complete medical history through the HIE, including substance use disorder (SUD), mental health, and other sensitive health information.

Maine – HealthInfoNet

HealthInfoNet (@hinfonet) is a Maine-based, independent nonprofit designated by the State of Maine to operate Maine’s statewide health information exchange. The HIE links medical information from separate health care sites to create a single electronic patient health record. This record is accessible to a patient’s authorized health care providers to support treatment. HealthInfoNet provides a secure, standardized electronic system where health care providers can share important patient information, giving them the tools they need to make more informed treatment decisions, especially in an emergency.

New Application Puts HIE in Context of EHR Clinical Workflows – HealthInfoNet is excited to announce the release of its new “HINcontext” application. This SMART (Substitutable Medical Applications, Reusable Technologies) on FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) software was designed and developed in partnership with the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP), a regional Health Information Exchange (HIE) serving Maryland, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia, and will soon be deployed to the MaineHealth healthcare system.

Nebraska Health Information Initiative (NeHII)

Nebraska Health Information Initiative (@NeHIIorg) is leading the effort to create a secure, online, web-based Health Information Exchange designed to serve the state of Nebraska. Improved delivery of health care information and reduced health care costs are good for all citizens of Nebraska. The state has a proud tradition and reputation of providing the finest health care possible to its citizens. The HIE will help health care providers take health care to the next level.

New York -Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY)

NY-SHINY-200The SHIN-NY is the only HIE that provides universal access regardless of network or EHR system. New York State has made a significant investment in the SHIN-NY and in 2016 they set a goal of connecting 100% of the PPS across the state to the SHIN-NY. The eight RHIOs that make up the SHIN-NY are working directly with the PPS organizations to meet their needs.

Healthix (@healthix) – In partnership with city and state public health agencies, Healthix data and alerts assist in supporting vital community-wide health initiatives. From tracking a Legionnaires’ outbreak, to the development of COVID-19 Alerts, Healthix provides the critical information needed to answer questions and drive solutions. Read more about these and other updates in the July 2020 Newsletter.

HealtheConnections Supports Local Health Departments to Track, Mitigate Local COVID-19 Impact – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, local health departments (LHDs) have led county public health responses and supported our most vulnerable populations. These departments and staff are tasked with contact tracing, analyzing trends, and supplying information and resources to community members. With more than 1,400 participating organizations covering 42% of the patient population of New York state, HealtheConnections is supporting these efforts by leveraging its robust health information exchange (HIE) data to supply actionable information for LHD staff.

Three Organizations Added to Network in July – Hixny (@Hixny) connected three organizations to the community-wide health information network (HIN) in July, further expanding the availability of patient records to the statewide healthcare community and to individual healthcare consumers.

Arizona – Health Current

Health Current (@AZHealthCurrent), is a partner that gives providers the information they need to make better clinical decisions and keep people healthy. The HIE believes more complete information is more meaningful. It makes healthcare transformation possible. And Health Current is central to this progress, integrating information technology and care delivery to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Colorado Regional Health Information Exchange (CORHIO)

CORHIO200CORHIO (@CORHIO) manages one of the country’s largest and most successful health information exchange networks and works to improve healthcare through the use of information technology and data exchange.

CORHIO Partners With Mile High United Way and 2-1-1 Colorado on Care Coordination Project – With funding from Colorado’s Office of eHealth Innovation, CORHIO and Mile High United Way, on behalf of 2-1-1 Colorado, are partnering on a project to improve care coordination between health and human services for Coloradoans. This collaborative team is currently reaching out to healthcare providers, social service providers and community-based organizations to explore key partner and stakeholder needs.

Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN)

The Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (@MiHIN) is Michigan’s initiative to continuously improve health care quality, efficiency, and patient safety by promoting secure, electronic exchange of health information through the MiHIN Health Information Services Cloud (HISC). MiHIN represents a growing network of public and private organizations working to overcome data sharing barriers, reduce costs, and ultimately advance the health of Michigan’s population.

MiHIN Employee Named Detroit Regional Chamber Ambassador – East Lansing, Mich. — Greg Cavanaugh, Senior Business Development Manager at the MiHIN, has been named to the Ambassador Committee with the Detroit Regional Chamber for 2020-21.

Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL)

VITL-twitterVITL (@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).

Bruce Bullock, MD, retires after 10 Years of Service on the VITL Board, Leah Fullem, MHCDS, Elected New Board Chair – The VITL board of directors elected Leah Fullem, MHCDS, as the new board chairperson in July. Her election follows Dr. Bruce Bullock’s announcement of his retirement from the board earlier this year. Bruce Bullock, MD, is a private primary care physician in Rutland, who previously served as Chief Medical Information Officer for Rutland Regional Medical Center, where he drove the transition from paper records to an electronic medical record system.

Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE)

IHIE-200Indiana 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.

Indiana Health Information Exchange uses health data during COVID-19 outbreak – Improving health and healthcare through electronic information exchange is our sole purpose. During a health crisis, more than ever, we are steadfast in our commitment of improving the speed and accessibility of life-saving health data. As Indiana’s statewide Health Information Exchange, our diligence has only increased as we coordinate with the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Regenstrief Institute, and healthcare providers in every corner to ensure we do all we can together to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services

LANES (@LANES_HIE) is an independent, non-profit organization developing a health information exchange (HIE) for all hospitals, clinics, and health plans that provide care to L.A. County residents. LANES seeks to make patients health information available safely and securely, when and where it is needed to enable better clinical care and care coordination.

Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Partners with LANES to Populate Empaneled Life Management Platform – LANES announced that its repository of secure health information exchange (HIE) data will inform the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services’ (DHS) empaneled life management (ELM) registry-based performance program to support population health initiatives.

Idaho Health Data Exchange (IDHE)
The Idaho Health Data Exchange (@idahohde), a non-profit 501(c)(3) company, is Idaho’s statewide Health Information Exchange, dedicated to meeting the needs of healthcare providers and ensuring that Idaho’s citizens receive the most effective health services possible. To achieve these goals, IHDE is working with a wide-array of stakeholders and actively building a best in breed technology infrastructure to provide access to reliable data and information, combining traditional healthcare data with other data sources to help address the medical, behavioral, and social needs that influence the well-being of Idahoans.

Idaho Health Data Exchange Announces New Partnership with Aunt Bertha – IHDE announced a new partnership with Aunt Bertha, a search and referral platform of social service organizations, to provide a safe, secure, and effective platform for participants to connect patients with social services. This tool will help users better understand and act on patients’ social determinants of health (SDOH), in addition to connecting patients with resources to improve health equity.

HIE Organizations Upcoming Events

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2020 HIT Conference (@UHIN_HIE)
What: 2020 HIT Conference
When: November 10-11, 2020
Where: Virtual 2-Day Event

WISHIN HIE Summit 2020 (@WISHIN_Pulse)
What: WISHIN HIE Summit
When: February 21, 2020
Where: Glacier Canyon Conference Center, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Connecting Michigan for Health Conference (@MiHIN)
What: Connecting Michigan for Health Conference
When: POSTPONED Until 2021
Where: Lansing Center, Lansing, Michigan

Resources

HealthDataAnswers.net

  • We have moved our ONC news and updates to What’s Happening at the ONC series posts on alternate Fridays.
  • Find more news and updates about the latest in interoperability, personal health records, digital records and more in our HIE Rundown series posts on alternate Fridays.

Consult our Events Calendar for  a schedule of upcoming health IT events and webinars.