Extending the Adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Systems
Uses ESO Solutions Inc. software to speed optimum care to patients
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. and AUSTIN, Texas, May, 1, 2013 – Michigan Health Connect is introducing the speed and accuracy of electronic health records to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) industry in Michigan, providing vital, life-saving patient information to emergency responders. Continue Reading…
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich./Columbus, Ohio– Patient care doesn’t stop at state lines in the Midwest anymore.
Two of the nation’s fastest-growing health information exchanges – Michigan Health Connect and Ohio’s CliniSync – can now help physicians in both states securely exchange patient information using Direct.
The medical records of Michigan patients who receive care in Ohio can be sent securely through Direct, using encrypted email to the doctor who is providing treatment – and the same goes for Ohioans who cross the border for care in Michigan.
“With this connection to Michigan Health Connect, we’re able to serve patients and physicians on one of the borders of our state,” says Dan Paoletti, chief executive officer of the Ohio Health Information Partnership, which manages CliniSync, Ohio’s statewide health information exchange. “This electronic communication shows how we’re heading into the future where technology will allow providers to exchange information that follows patients, despite geography.”
Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect, says such collaboration between states provides more timely and efficient care for patients, giving physicians current and historical health information that can speed diagnosis and treatment.
“We know patients regularly cross the Michigan-Ohio border to receive care and we are committed to making sure those transitions of care are as seamless and coordinated as those that occur within state borders,” Dietzman said.
“The significance of connecting technical platforms between states is that there are real patient-centered use cases behind it,” Dietzman said. “This partnership with Ohio is about leveraging technology to serve people – it’s not simply technology for technology’s sake.”
The partnership means non-electronic communications – faxing, telephone calls, or mail – are replaced with faster, more comprehensive, encrypted emails in a trusted environment among authorized physicians and personnel, so physicians have information when and where they need it.
The primary care physician of a student attending college in Michigan or Ohio, for example, can securely and efficiently send pertinent information to the doctor who is out-of-state. Or a physician treating an elderly person with multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol can be assured a specialist across the border treating the patient has everything needed to provide optimum care.
Health records can include such information as patient discharge summaries from hospitals, radiology or imaging reports, medication lists, annual physicals, lab results, immunization or vaccination reports and other information enabling physicians to provide better care. The exchange of complete patient health information means physicians can reduce duplicative tests and get a “whole” picture of a patient.
CONTACTS
Sharon Emery, Truscott Rossman
Michigan Health Connect
517-896-7075
semery@truscottrossman.com
or
Dottie Howe, Communications Director
CliniSync/Ohio Health Information Partnership
614-664-2605
dhowe@ohiponline.org
About Ohio’s CliniSync
CliniSync is Ohio’s statewide health information exchange, now contracted with 87 hospitals for exchange services. Currently, 23 hospitals are live, currently sending information to more than 600 physicians from seven hospitals. The Ohio Health Information Partnership, a nonprofit funded through the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology, has assisted 6,500 primary care physicians in adopting electronic health records and is a national leader in ensuring that 10,000 eligible professionals in Ohio have received Medicaid and Medicare incentives for participating reaching “meaningful use” through the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. For more information about CliniSync, go to: www.CliniSync.org.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The coordination of health information statewide has taken a major step forward, as Priority Health joins the state’s largest health information exchange, Michigan Health Connect.
Priority Health is the first major insurer to join a health information exchange (HIE) in Michigan. The move comes as the state and nation work to create a secure, seamless system for the transmission of electronic health records to improve patient care and reduce costs.
“Priority Health’s partnership with Michigan Health Connect on behalf of their 600,000-plus members and large network of providers across the state will help ensure that Michigan residents get the best-coordinated care in the country,” said Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect.
“Collaboration is central to Michigan Health Connect’s mission, and Priority Health’s decision to work with our hospitals, providers and other stakeholders to create an integrated, statewide health information exchange is a great example for other health plans nationwide,” Dietzman said.
Michigan Health Connect is the only HIE in the state with the ability to deliver hospital admission, discharge and transfer notifications to insurers. The partnership means Priority Health is immediately notified and can start processing claims when members are treated in an emergency room or admitted to a hospital.
“Partnering with Michigan Health Connect means we can further support our providers with the tools and information they need in their local offices to provide the best care for our members,” said Mike Koziara, chief operating officer for Priority Health. “At the same time, we are collaborating to advance the future of health care in Michigan.”
About Priority Health
Priority Health is an award-winning health plan nationally recognized for creating innovative solutions that impact healthcare costs while maximizing customer experience. It offers a broad portfolio of products for employer groups and individuals including Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. As a nonprofit company, Priority Health serves more than 600,000 people and continues to be rated among the best health plans in the nation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. For more information see www.PriorityHealth.com.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Munson Healthcare’s eight northern Michigan hospitals can securely and efficiently exchange patient information with medical providers across the state, thanks to a partnership with Michigan Health Connect, the state’s largest provider of health information exchange.
The partnership means that Southeast Michigan residents visiting northern Michigan, for example, can have their medical records available electronically at any Munson facility, should they require medical treatment.
“Adding Munson to our statewide network ensures that northern Michigan residents and visitors benefit from the enhanced care that comes with the efficient, secure transfer of electronic medical records,” said Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect. “Timely, well-informed care makes all the difference for patients.”
Munson’s northern Michigan hospitals are: Charlevoix Area Hospital (Charlevoix), Kalkaska Memorial Health Center (Kalkaska), Mercy Hospital Cadillac (Cadillac), Mercy Hospital Grayling (Grayling), Munson Medical Center (Traverse City), Otsego Memorial Hospital (Gaylord), Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital (Frankfort) and West Shore Medical Center (Manistee).
“Munson Healthcare already offers a continuum of health care services to people from 24 counties across northern Michigan, and this partnership with Michigan Health Connect in effect extends our reach statewide,” said Ryan Winn, director of information systems for Munson Healthcare. “The ability to receive and deliver complete medical records almost immediately means our physicians and medical professionals can provide the very best care possible.”
GRAND RAPIDS – Physicians and behavioral health providers using Michigan Health Connect’s cutting-edge behavioral health referral service can now exchange patient referrals over a secure electronic network that helps ensure timely, comprehensive patient care.
Nearly 500 physician and behavioral health providers in Michigan are exchanging information regarding some 1,000 referrals weekly via the highly secure system, the largest electronic patient referral network in Michigan, said Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect (MHC).
Behavioral health information must be exchanged on an entirely different platform from physical health information, under the Michigan Mental Health Code. Michigan Health Connect’s system allows for the efficient coordination of those two sets of health data.
“The safe, secure exchange of patient information – in and between physical and behavioral health – will improve patient outcomes, which is always Michigan Health Connect’s goal,” said Dietzman. “The coordination of physical and behavioral health information represents a revolution in delivering quality patient care, and we want to lead that effort here in Michigan.”
Agencies working to connect Michigan families with behavioral health services are among those participating in Michigan Health Connect’s network.
“We are excited to be a part of this growing initiative to bridge the gap between physical health and behavioral health providers,” said Rachel Fox, program manager of early childhood programs at Arbor Circle Counseling Services in Grand Rapids. “We are eager to expedite communication, cut down on paperwork and faxing and process new referrals quickly for families in need of behavioral health services.”
Dave Sisson, manager of Data Initiatives at First Steps, a nonprofit facilitating access to services for young children in Kent County, agreed.
“With our new referral process through Michigan Health Connect, First Steps continues its efforts to become completely paperless,” Sessions said. “We consider keeping up with the changes in the medical community very important, and this also means our clients receive referrals faster, with fewer barriers.”
About Michigan Health Connect
Michigan Health Connect is the largest provider of health information exchange in Michigan, serving 64 hospitals, 1,551 medical offices, more than 7,000 individual providers and diverse providers statewide including Federally Qualified Health Clinics, Community Behavioral Health and long-term care facilities. The nationally recognized, community-based nonprofit works to enhance patient care by improving access to timely, secure clinical information while streamlining administrative functions for providers. For more information see www.MichiganHealthConnect.org.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – North Ottawa Community Health System in Grand Haven and Mecosta County Medical Center in Big Rapids are now serving their patients with state-of-the-art health information exchange (HIE), via Michigan Health Connect.
As members of Michigan Health Connect, the state’s largest provider of HIE, the two hospitals can send patients’ health records and reports through a secure electronic network that includes 57 other hospitals, 1,551 medical offices and more than 7,000 individual health care providers statewide.
“Connectivity is essential to make the health care system in Michigan work more effectively and more efficiently for patients and providers,” said Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect. “When health care providers receive timely, complete patient information, they can deliver better care as cost-effectively as possible.”
Mecosta County Medical Center is using the system to connect its hospital offices with its long-term care facility.
“For older patients and those with debilitating chronic conditions, it’s vital to transfer their complete medical record as fast as possible,” said Mike Miller, director of information technology at the Mecosta County Medical Center. “We can attain that kind of speed, accuracy and security as members of Michigan Health Connect.”
In Grand Haven, North Ottawa Community Health System will be connecting to dozens of physicians in the community.
“Patients today see more than one physician, often in various locations,” said Joe Abbott, director of information systems at North Ottawa Community Health System. “Michigan Health Connect ensures that no matter where our patients seek care – whether inside our continuum of care in Grand Haven or beyond – their health record can be accessed.”
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - November 13, 2012 – More than 1,000 physicians in 441 practices across Michigan have joined Michigan Health Connect (MHC) and are using Medicity’s iNexx Referrals app to automate health care referrals for patients. The process helps deliver pertinent patient information quickly, completely and securely.
“The iNexx Referrals app eliminates a significant workflow bottleneck for physician practices,” said Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect. “It gets rid of the manual process of completing a paper referral form, faxing it and then trading calls with the other physician’s office to make sure it arrived.
“Perhaps most important for patients, the automated system guarantees that their complete medical information and test results arrive in a timely manner,” Dietzman said.
Once physicians start using the app, they encourage their referring partners to adopt iNexx and join their eReferral network. The app is free to physician practices. It’s widely used by primary care providers, specialists, homecare providers, behavioral health organizations and community clinics.
“I no longer have to wait for my staff to trade phone calls and faxes while patients wait to be seen,” said Dr. Brian Stork, M.D., a urologist at West Shore Urology in Muskegon. “By providing access to information before a patient comes in to see me, iNexx Referrals has helped me provide faster and safer care. Plus, I can make sure patients have the education and preparation materials they need before they come into the office, which boosts patient satisfaction.”
Primary care physicians and specialists are sending approximately 4,000 referrals per month using this process.
The 422 physician practices that have joined Michigan Health Connect are located in 76 cities and 32 counties, ranging from Grand Rapids (Kent County) and Muskegon (Muskegon County) in West Michigan to Port Huron (St. Clair County) on the east side. They represent more than 1,000 physicians and 242 specialties.
About Michigan Health Connect
Michigan Health Connect is the largest provider of health information exchange in Michigan, serving 55 hospitals, 1,265 medical offices and more than 4,000 individual providers statewide. The nationally recognized, community-based nonprofit works to enhance patient care by improving access to timely, secure clinical information while streamlining administrative functions for providers. For more information see www.MichiganHealthConnect.org
About Medicity
Medicity, the industry standard for health information exchange (HIE), is the leading innovator and largest provider of HIE technology – with more than 800 hospitals and 250,000 physicians in its connected ecosystem. Medicity’s solutions empower hospitals, physicians and HIEs with secure access to and exchange of health information – improving the quality and efficiency of patient care locally, regionally and nationally. For more information, please visit http://www.medicity.com or follow us on twitter.com/medicity.
November 12, 2012, Grand Rapids, MI and Carrollton, GA – Michigan Health Connect (MHC), Michigan’s largest provider of health information exchange, and Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc., today announced an agreement to provide large-scale integrated health system data exchange for physician practices utilizing Greenway’s electronic health record (EHR), practice management and interoperability solution PrimeSUITE®.
Michigan physicians utilizing PrimeSUITE can seamlessly exchange information with any participating hospital that feeds data into Michigan Health Connect, providing connectivity of clinical results data instantly and securely.
“With Greenway’s ability to develop a hub-to-hub connection leading to the growth of participation in the Michigan Health Connect program, patients across the state will benefit from more collaborative and cost effective care,” said Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect. “Ever-expanding data exchange platforms also aid healthcare providers in meeting the criteria and goals of care coordination inventive programs such as meaningful use.”
Michigan Health Connect currently includes 52 member hospitals and more than 4,000 physicians across Michigan delivering more than 820,000 results per month.
“As reliable, standards-based data exchange becomes paramount for care coordination, we are pleased to be among the collaborative partners of Michigan Health Connect committed to providing scalable solutions throughout the region,” said Justin Barnes, Greenway® vice president and board member of the global data exchange and transport standards organization Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE-USA). “This partnership with Michigan Health Connect provides the means for impacting patient outcomes and furthers the eventuality of a national health information network.”
About Michigan Health Connect
Nationally recognized Michigan Health Connect, the state’s largest provider of health information exchange, works to enhance patient care by improving access to timely, secure clinical information while streamlining administrative functions for providers. More information about the community-based nonprofit, including a list of member hospitals and providers, is available at www.MichiganHealthConnect.org.
About Greenway and PrimeSUITE
Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: GWAY) delivers smarter solutions for smarter healthcare™. PrimeSUITE ® — Greenway’s certified and fully integrated electronic health record, practice management and interoperability solution — helps improve care coordination, quality and cost-efficiency as part of a smarter, sustainable healthcare system. Thousands of providers across 30 specialties and sub-specialties use on-premise or cloud-based Greenway® solutions in physician practices, clinics and health systems. To learn more, go to greenwaymedical.com, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, or email info@greenwaymedical.com.
July 16, 2012 – Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills has joined Michigan Health Connect, a Grand Rapids-based health information exchange that now has 54 of the state’s 134 medical-surgical hospitals as members.
Four other health systems and 18 hospitals in Southeast Michigan have joined Michigan Health Connect in the past two years: Beaumont Health System in Royal Oak, St. John Providence Health System in Warren, McLaren Health Care in Flint and Novi-based Trinity Health.
“We are moving to a population health management structure and are interested in reducing costs and improving quality for our patients,” said Paul LaCasse, D.O., CEO of Botsford Health Care, the hospital’s parent company.
“We need decision support services and the ability to pass information between entities. We are well under way with electronic medical record systems at Botsford. We need the exchange to pass that information to other providers.”
Initially, about 110 physicians will use the exchange, with an additional 500 on their way to installing electronic medical records, LaCasse said.
Doug Dietzman, Michigan Health’s executive director, said many other hospitals in the state have discussed joining the exchange but are not ready because they haven’t completed installation of their electronic medical record systems.
“The secure exchange of medical records ensures quality and cost control while improving the efficiency of health care providers across the state,” he said. Read the full story here.
LANSING – Health care providers statewide working with Michigan Health Connect (MHC)
can now send child and adult immunization records directly to the state’s Michigan Care Improvement Registry, ensuring the efficient, secure transfer of data vital to public health. The system sets a new standard in Michigan for the automatic feed of health information
to state data banks.
“Directly and securely connecting MHC’s 54 hospitals, 961 medical offices and more than 3,500 individual providers to the state’s health records registries will facilitate more timely, accurate and efficient submission of this required data in support of overall patient care,” said
Doug Dietzman, executive director of Michigan Health Connect. “It also will help Michigan providers satisfy federal requirements for health information exchange.” Grand Rapids-based MHC uses the Michigan Health Information Network to route the data, allowing real-t ime electronic reporting of immunizations as they are administered. In addition, Michigan Health Connect members can send electronic lab reports to the Michigan Disease Surveillance System.
“Not only will this tool better integrate patient care across systems, but it will allow the State of Michigan to see trends in public health with more extensive data than before,” Olga Dazzo, director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, said in a written statement. The goal for all partners is better patient experiences and improved quality health care. “The safe, secure exchange of health information improves patient outcomes, and Michigan Health Connect is working to make sure its members are helping to lead that charge,”
Dietzman said.
Nationally recognized Michigan Health Connect, the state’s largest provider of health information exchange, works to enhance patient care by improving access to timely, secure clinical information while streamlining administrative functions for providers.
