State HIE News and Updates 10-26-18

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Posted By: Annmarie Budniak October 26, 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.

Alabama One Health Record

The One Health Record® system was created as Alabama’s health information exchange (HIE) through a federal grant awarded to the state in 2009. Under the guidance of the Alabama Health Information Commission, One Health Record® has emerged as an interoperable, two-way data exchange system between providers, hospitals and others within Alabama and in other states. The Georgia Regional Academic Community Health Information Exchange (GRAChIE) and Alabama State HIE, One Health Record, collaborated closely to build up connectivity between providers in and beyond these two states within 24 hours after SHIEC set them up for connection in response to Michael.

HIEs provide access to patient records in wake of Hurricane Michael – Tech Target reports that by October 18, Hurricane Michael, the strongest U.S. storm in terms of maximum sustained wind speed since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, left 35 people dead and displaced over 300,000 people in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. In preparation for the storm, the Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative (SHIEC) connected HIEs throughout the Southeast to make sure providers in surrounding states had access to patient records, taking into consideration the needs of evacuees who were injured from the disaster or needed to be transferred from their home-based healthcare facilities.

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.

NC HealthConnex Builds Emergency Connections to Neighboring State and Regional HIEs to Improve Access to Patient Records During Hurricane Florence – In the event the storm forces patients to seek health care outside of their communities, North Carolina’s statewide health information exchange -NC HealthConnex – has enabled connectivity to neighbor state and regional HIEs to support access to patient records.

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.

Save the Date:

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.

Nebraska finds success with expanded PDMP – According to Behavioral Healthcare Executive in January, Nebraska became the first state that required pharmacists and pharmacies to report all dispensed prescriptions to the state’s PDMP in an effort to provide that data to physicians. According to officials there, the transition is going well so far.

Health Share Exchange of Southeastern Pennsylvania (HSX)

PA-HSX-200HealthShare 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.

HSX Receives the Data Quality Award from the National Collaborative of Health Information Exchanges – HSX is the winner of the SHIEC 2018 Achievement Award for Quality and Quality Data, for its efforts in partnership with Diameter Health, to standardize continuity of care documents (CCDs) provided to its participating healthcare members. In Atlanta, on August 20, 2018, the recognition was bestowed on HSX staff members, with recognition called out to Diameter, at SHIEC18, the annual conference of SHIEC (the Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative), the national trade organization of health information exchanges. Diameter Health is a solutions vendor that enables better clinical insights through the normalization, cleansing, de-duplication, and enrichment of medical data.

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.

Use Case Report: Penobscot Community Health Center – In 2018, Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC), a Federally Qualified Health Center and The Hope House Health and Living Center in Bangor began a unique collaboration between health care and homelessness services utilizing HealthInfoNet’s Analytics and Reporting Platform (HARP). This tool identifies patients at high-risk for readmissions and connecting them to appropriate community and health services to prevent readmissions.

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.

Catch up on the Latest from AZHealthCurrent:

South Carolina Health Information Exchange (SCHIEx)

schiex-logo-orangeSouth Carolina Health Information Exchange is an innovative statewide information highway that allows participating health care providers to view a patient’s medical history, including medications, diagnoses and procedures. It is not a secure network where providers use certified technology to share the information they need for better outcomes.

SCHIEx helps create secure method for transporting medical records across state lines – What happens when a natural disaster brings a hyper focus on an issue? Things get done. Within six days, what normally takes months to accomplish was completed. On Monday morning as Hurricane Florence was approaching the North Carolina/South Carolina coast, the South Carolina Health Information Exchange (SCHIEx) and the North Carolina Health Information Exchange (NCHIE) set everything else aside and intensely focused on establishing a connection between the two health information exchanges. Why? Because a patient’s medical record is vital to the continued treatment of that patient, no matter if that patient is in North Carolina or South Carolina.

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.

New York Helping Health Care Providers Connect to Rochester RHIO (@RochesterRHIO), Improving Electronic Records and Care – More than 60 Rochester-area health care providers are now securely providing patient health records to Rochester RHIO, thanks to a statewide grant program that helps offset the setup costs. Since its inception in 2017, the Data Exchange Incentive Program (DEIP) has already awarded more than $700,000 in grants across the region.

Behavioral Health Providers Join Hixny, Helping Provide More Complete Patient Records – Four behavioral health organizations that serve a wide range of patients are now securely sharing electronic health records through Hixny (@Hixny). These new connections join 100 percent of nonprofit and private hospitals and three out of four providers in northeastern New York who are connected through Hixny.

Healthix October 2018 Newsletter – This month’s issue outlines waived Healthix (@healthix) connection fees, newly awarded SIM Grant, EHR hub model expansion and more.

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.

Congratulations to our CEO, Teresa Rivera for being re-elected to the WEDI board of directors for 2019!

Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN)

MI-MiHIN-200The 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.

Connecting Michigan for Health 2019 Call for Speakers – MiHIN announced its call for speakers for the 2019 Connecting Michigan for Health Conference. The 11th annual event will return to the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan, June 3-5, 2019 and this year’s theme is Amplify: Boosting the Power of Connectivity.

openAirWare Launches New Software to Improve Michigan Health Information Exchange – MiHIN has adopted openAirWare software that enables MiHIN health plan partners to securely and easily communicate with one another throughout Michigan. The software offers a newly designed real-time conversion from any Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (C-CDA) to standards accepted by the American National Standards Institute for electronic data exchange. This enables health plans to obtain up-to-date claim status and related responses, including All Payer Supplemental Health Care Claims.

Georgia Health Information Network (GaHIN)
GA_DCH_Branding_JW4

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.

GaHIN October Newsletter – Find out about informative webinars on the horizon and meet GaHIN’s newest board members and more in the latest edition of the organization’s newsletter.

Michigan – Great Lakes Health Connect (GLHC)

GLHC twitterGreat 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.

Another Successful Year of GLHC Summit Series Comes to a Close:

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.

Health-e-MedRecord and CORHIO Partner on Statewide Platform to Ensure Patient Wishes are Respected – Health-e-MedRecord (HEMR), a software solution designed to enhance electronic health records, and CORHIO have announced their partnership, which will allow CORHIO to implement HEMR’s Medcordance Advance Care Planning platform, designed to ensure patients’ treatment wishes are honored during medical emergencies.

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).

Duplication causes headaches for state patient exchange – According to VTDigger, since last year, the most-publicized problem plaguing the state’s health information exchange has been a lack of patients. But as it turns out, there also are far too many patient records. That seeming paradox is the latest issue being tackled by Vermont Information Technology Leaders, the Burlington-based nonprofit that runs the exchange and is under state orders to fix it.

 

HIE Organizations Upcoming Events

calendarblueup-200

WISHIN’s Third Annual Wisconsin HIE Summit (@WISHIN_Pulse)
What: 2018 Wisconsin HIE Summit 
When: November 14, 2018
Where: Glacier Canyon Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells

2018 Health Current Summit & Trade Show (@AZHealthCurrent)
What: 2018 Summit & Trade Show 
When: December 3-4, 2018
Where: Glendale, AZ

Sponsorship Opportunities are open for the 2018 Health Current Summit & Trade Show | Dec. 3 -4 | Glendale, AZ https://t.co/IpdqLNJmrW pic.twitter.com/bVM6qlei4F

2019 Connecting Michigan for Health Annual Conference (@MiHIN)
What: 2019 Connecting Michigan for Health Conference 
When: June 3-5, 2019
Where: Lansing Center in 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.