State HIE News and Updates 1-12-18

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Posted By: Annmarie Budniak January 12, 2018

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.

SHIEC Launches Patient Centered Data Home Initiative Nationally

The Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative (@SHIEClive), representing HIEs across the country, is launching nationally its Patient Centered Data Home initiative, a secure data exchange system that alerts providers when their patients have a healthcare event beyond where they typically receive care.

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.

DHHS Launches Additional Enhancements to Prescription Drug Monitoring Program – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in conjunction with the Nebraska Health Information Initiative launched additional enhancements to the state’s prescription drug monitoring program for health care professionals who prescribe and dispense medications.

California – Cal INDEX

Cal INDEX is an independent, nonprofit organization that is developing a statewide HIE. This uniquely comprehensive collection of electronic patient records includes clinical data from healthcare providers and health insurers combined into a single longitudinal patient record. Cal INDEX’s technology platform provides hospitals and physicians with real-time access to a patient’s vital healthcare information. This innovation will improve the quality of patient care, improve the efficiency of delivering and coordinating care, and reduce the cost of healthcare services. Cal INDEX was founded through seed funding from Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross.

Cal INDEX and Inland Empire HIE will merge to form California’s largest health information exchange; former White House technology advisor named CEO – The California Integrated Data Exchange and Inland Empire Health Information Exchange announced a planned merger that will create one of the nation’s most comprehensive nonprofit health information exchanges (HIEs). Claudia Williams, former White House technology senior advisor, will lead the new organization as CEO, effective February 1, 2017. The merger, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2017 and will operate as a tax-exempt public benefit corporation under a new name.

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.

Health Current is Hiring – Health Current is looking for dynamic people to join their team. The organization offers a great work environment along with medical, dental, vision and 401(k) benefits. Check out their list of open positions.

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.

Islands Community Medical Services Connects to HealthInfoNet – Islands Community Medical Services is now live with a bidirectional connection to HealthInfoNet. The Federally Qualified Health Center in Vinalhaven is now sending demographics, primary care provider, encounter information, diagnosis codes, allergies, payer category, vitals, and immunizations to the exchange.

Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN)

wi-shin-twitterIn 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.

WISHIN Works for Aurora’s Care-Management Program – Aurora Health Care established an intensive care-management program for frequent ED users in 2014 to reduce non-emergent ED visits and connect patients to medical homes and other health resources in the community. As the program has evolved, Aurora case managers have found that WISHIN Pulse is a crucial tool for their care-coordination activities.

WISHIN Pulse Community Health Record Integrates with Wisconsin ePDMP – Effective December 7, 2017, the WISHIN Pulse Community Health Record will be directly integrated with Wisconsin’s Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (ePDMP). This new integration ensures that using the WISHIN Pulse system to review a patient’s prescribed narcotics will remain compliant with state law in 2018 and beyond.

GA_DCH_Branding_JW4Georgia 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.

Georgia Health Information Network Awards $500,000 in Grants – Georgia Health Information Network awarded a total of $500,000 to its members in 2017 to accelerate technology adoption and the electronic exchange of health information. This brings the total disbursed through GaHIN’s Intermediary Grant Program to $2.5 million over the past three years. GaHIN’s Intermediary Grant Program helps Georgia’s eligible providers and hospitals connect to the HIE so they can securely access and share patient information at the point of care. Intermediaries are hospital-based and regional HIEs that have direct technical interoperable connections to GaHIN. The program was funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with the Georgia Department of Community Health passing the funds through to GaHIN to develop and execute the program.

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.

Colorado Advanced Interoperability Initiative Improves Clinical Data Exchange – A grant was awarded in 2015 to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). ONC awarded funds to 12 states, and Colorado’s focus was on enabling bidirectional data exchange, where participants both receive and submit data into an HIE. In particular, Colorado sought to improve transitions of care between ambulatory providers, behavioral health, and long-term and post-acute care organizations.

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).

State’s $44.3M health data system ‘at a crossroads,’ study says – Vermont’s health information exchange network is supposed to make treating patients easier, safer and more efficient. But the VTDigger reports that a recent review found the exchange itself, which is operated by Vermont Information Technology Leaders, or VITL, suffering from serious financial and administrative maladies of its own. As a result, most users have “lost confidence” in the exchange, according to the review by Kentucky-based HealthTech Solutions. State officials and VITL administrators say they’re not giving up on the problem-plagued system, which has received a total of $44.3 million in state and federal funding. They have begun implementing a multiyear plan to make the exchange more efficient, effective and accountable.

Utah Health Information Network (UHIN)

UT-UHIN-200UHIN (@UHIN_HIE) 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.

Provider Education Summit – It’s time to register for the 2018 Provider Education Summit (formerly the Provider Education Fairs). This FREE workshop is a collaboration between multiple healthcare organizations and will feature a wide range of engaging subjects, including the ever popular payer panel. Last year’s events attracted more than 350 attendees, including billers, coders and office managers from across the state. The events will be held in four locations – Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo and St. George – to offer providers from all areas the opportunity to participate.

Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN)

KS-KHINKHIN (@khininfo) capitalizes on the unique strengths that local communities and regions bring to the HIE and ensure that individual regions or communities have the decision-making authority to address local or regional health-care initiatives.

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.

HIE Organizations Upcoming Events

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2018 State Healthcare IT Connect Summit (@HealthITCONNECT)
What: 9th Annual State Healthcare IT Connect Summit 
When: April 5-6, 2018
Where: Hilton Hotel Baltimore, MD

UHIN 2018 Provider Education Summit (@UHIN_HIE)
What: 2018 Provider Education Summit 
When: March 21, 27, 28, April 11, 2018
Where: Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo and St. George