Statewide 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. Here are updates being reported from these organizations.
2016 State Healthcare IT Connect Summit
#StateHIT – March 21-22, 2016 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, In Partnership with National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO). The 2016 meeting is the 7th Annual State Healthcare IT Connect Summit, the 2-day program brings together public and private sector thought leaders to share ideas and benchmark implementation strategies of State health IT systems as they move forward with diverse health reform and transformation agendas.
Arizona: AzHeC
The Arizona Health-e Connection (@AzHeC) Board of Directors has approved a plan to integrate physical and behavioral health information into The Network, the statewide health information exchange (HIE) it operates. The plan was approved unanimously in late January by the AzHeC Board and the Network Leadership Council, and outlines how physical and behavioral health data will be exchanged via The Network while meeting all requirements of HIPAA, state and federal law.
The Network witnessed very strong growth in participation in the 4th quarter of 2015, and that strong growth has continued in January. In addition, The Network is seeing a significant upsurge in the utilization of Network services by new Network participants, especially in Alerts and Notifications.
Pennsylvania: PA eHealth Partnership Authority
Authority Announces Staff Leadership Change, Effective April 18 – The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania eHealth Partnership Authority (@PAeHealth) announced the resignation of Alexandra (Alix) Goss, Executive Director, effective April 18. Goss notified the Board of her decision at its January 22 public meeting. “The Board has reluctantly accepted Alix’s resignation,” said David F. Simon, Chairman of the Authority. “She was a linchpin of the Authority’s creation and has been central to its progress toward establishing statewide electronic health information exchange, and we will miss her leadership and knowledge.” The Board has named Kelly Hoover Thompson, currently the Authority’s Chief Counsel and Privacy Officer, to serve as Interim Executive Director following Goss’ departure on April 18.
Vermont – VITL
VITL’s 2015 Annual Report: A Retrospective on Our Accomplishments and Challenges – VITL (@VITLVT) has a statutory obligation to provide the Vermont Legislature with an annual report about their progress, and each year they are invited by the legislature to discuss the report. This year they met with the House Committee on Health Care on Friday, January 29. The annual report is an opportunity for them to take stock of their accomplishments and consider the coming year’s projects and challenges. It also allows them to acknowledge the providers, clinicians, patients, health IT professionals, health care consumers, partners, stakeholders, policy makers and many others who are also transforming health care in Vermont. Read an excerpt of the report in their newsletter and download the PDF.
Louisiana – LA Health Care Quality Forum (LHCQF)
Advanced Care Planning and LaPOST Webinar – February 18th -12 noon CT: LA Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment – Improving end-of-life care by honoring the health care wishes of patients. Their goal is to empower consumers and health care professionals with information and resources to make educated decisions about end-of-life care.
Vindell Washington, MD, has been named Principal Deputy Coordinator at ONC. He previously served as president and CMIO of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System and as past president of the Quality Forum (@LHCQF1) board. In his new role, Washington will lead ONC programs, operations and policies with a special focus on the Precision Medicine Initiative, delivery system reform and implementing the Interoperability Roadmap.