|
BREAKING NEWS
Direct Project Completes First Models of Simple NHIN
By Mary Mosquera
The first version of the software that will allow simple information exchange between providers, a crucial enabler for the first stage of meaningful use of electronic health records, was announced by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. Read More >>
HIE NEWS
Health Information Exchange and Telehealth Networks: Opportunities for Leveraging Resources
By Christina Beach Thielst, FACHE
A confluence of events, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and healthcare reform legislation to shifting consumer health trends, are driving radical change in the nation’s healthcare system. The response from stakeholders is accelerating the adoption of electronic health records and moving us toward health information exchange (HIE). Read More >>
|
Viewpoint
In the article Health Information Exchange and Telehealth Networks: Opportunities for Leveraging Resources, the author poses telehealth network infrastructure as an option for providers and HIEs to leverage for facilitation of data exchange and accessibility. What do you think about this strategy? If you are a health information exchange network or organization, we would like to know if you are integrating telehealth services in your exchange activities and what your experiences have been in doing this. Also, let us know if you are considering incorporation of telehealth services and the benefits you anticipate from this service. Readers are asked to submit a 150-word editorial outlining their perspectives on this strategy to Nancy Vitucci, Manager, Publications, HIMSS, by close of business Monday,
Dec. 20. For more information, contact Nancy at 312-915-9238. |
States Should Be Careful Not to Duplicate Health Systems’ HIE Efforts
By Ken Tarkoff
The federal grants to state designated entities to build health information exchanges (HIEs) have created a potential unforeseen challenge: how to ensure that state-sponsored HIE programs don’t try to duplicate or compete with the private and community HIEs that many hospital systems have built or are in the processing of building. Read More >>
MetroChicago HIE Makes Progress toward Implementation
The Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) is in the final stages of selecting a vendor for the MetroChicago Health Information Exchange (HIE), which is set to be the first regional HIE in the state of Illinois Read More >>
Defining Governance for the Nationwide Health Information Network
The task of defining the “what,” “who” and “how” sounds like the instructions for playing a game of Clue. However, for the last three months, that has been the job of the Health IT Policy Committee’s (HITPC) Governance Workgroup in its effort to determine governance of the Nationwide Health Information Network. Read More >>
Webcast Explores Path to Nationwide Health Information Exchange
HIMSS Senior Director of Regional Affairs Pam Matthews recently led a Picis-sponsored panel discussion titled “HIE Reality Check: The Path to a Nationwide Health Information Exchange,” highlighting what it takes to not only put HIEs in motion, but sustain them financially and operationally. HIE leaders from three major regions across the U.S. weighed in on the success of their RHIOs, strategies for garnering clinician support, the role of state and federal government, keys to sustainability and what needs to happen to make nationwide HIEs a reality.
Read More >>
News Briefs
Don’t Miss HIE Symposium at HIMSS11
During the day-long HIE Symposium, HIE in the Era of HITECH and Health Reform on Sunday, Feb. 20 at HIMSS11, attendees will learn how HIEs (the noun and the verb) are leveraged within the industry's success with HITECH, meaningful use and health reform. Experts from the trenches will discuss practical case studies and perspectives on HIE deployment while focused topics will include data sharing capabilities, financial sustainability and consumer engagement. Included in the program will be a town hall session examining perspectives of the next horizon for health information exchanges and an update on the HITECH and various federal level funding initiatives as they relate to HIE. Click here for session information and to register.
HIMSS11 Early-Bird Registration Closes Monday, Dec. 6
Early-bird registration rates for the 2011 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition, Feb. 20-24 in Orlando end on Monday, Dec. 6; so, register today and save. Standard registration rates apply Dec. 7 through Jan. 24, 2011; after Jan. 24, on-site registration rates apply. Also, make sure to book your hotel in advance. There are no out-of-pocket costs to make hotel reservations. A credit card is required only for a guarantee. The deposit will not be charged until approximately two weeks prior to the conference. Book your hotel stay today.
Call for Contestants for HIT Geeks Got Talent Session at HIMSS11
Do you have the next best technology that will profoundly change the future of healthcare delivery? Are you willing to be judged on its merits by an esteemed panel of judges? If so, submit an application to be a contestant for the “HIT Geeks Got Talent? Round 1” session on Monday, Feb. 21, from 12:15 – 1:15 pm ET during HIT X.0: Beyond the Edge, a specialized educational program at HIMSS11. Finalists selected by the judges will then participate in the “HIT Geeks Got Talent? Finals” session on Tuesday Feb. 22, from 2:15 – 3:15 pm ET. The winning entry will receive a cash award and recognition. Submissions are due Dec. 20. All contestants will receive a complementary registration to HIT X.0. Contestants are responsible for all travel,
hotel and incidental expenses. For additional information, e-mail Joanne Bartley.
|
Editor's Note: The inclusion of an organization name, product or service in this newsletter should not be construed as a HIMSS endorsement of such organization, product or service, nor is the failure to include an organization name, product or service to be construed as disapproval.
HIMSS HIELights features extended coverage of all aspects pertaining to health information exchange (HIEs) including state and regional level HIE activities. Published on the first Thursday of the month, this newsletter provides the latest industry news, features HIE case studies and focuses on specific topics impacting information exchange. The HIMSS HIELights is a complimentary resource for HIMSS members, HIE organizations, regional extension centers, government agencies and anyone involved and interested in today's health information exchange activities.
We hope you have enjoyed HIMSS HIELights. If you and your colleagues would like to permanently subscribe to each and every complimentary edition, click here.
HIMSS Regional Affairs Team
Erica Pantuso, Vice President, Regional Affairs, epan...@himss.org
Pam Matthews, Senior Director, Regional Affairs, pmat...@himss.org
Nancy Vitucci, Editor, HIMSS HIELights, nvit...@himss.org, 312-915-9238
230 E. Ohio St, Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60611
|
|
| Legal Corner |
 |
 |
| Gerry Hinkley |
|
 |
|
| Allen Briskin |
|
What We Thought Was Important for HIEs to Think About in 2010
By Allen Briskin and Gerry Hinkley, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
During the past year, HIE has made incredible strides around the country, boosted by HITECH and the increasing recognition that HIE is a cornerstone of meaningful use of electronic health records and patient safety and the creation of consumer confidence in electronic health information storage and exchange. Here’s a recap of what was on our minds during this momentous year for HIE: Read More >> |
| Standards |
 |
|
Noam Arzt,
PhD, FHIMSS |
|
Update: The Direct Project
By Noam H. Arzt, PhD, FHIMSS
The Direct Project (formerly known as NHIN Direct) is approaching an important milestone: By early next year, a series of pilot projects will be implementing reference implementation software developed over the past six months with the standards and specifications created by the project. Direct is seen as a component of the overall Nationwide Health Information Network strategy. While the CONNECT software supports more sophisticated data exchange usually involving searching for patient data across a community, Direct supports simpler use cases aimed most specifically (but not exclusively) at enabling Stage 1 meaningful use for providers participating in the CMS EHR adoption incentive programs. Read More >>
|
| Networking |
|
LinkedIn Discussions
Participating in these discussions below is easy. Simply become a member of our HIMSS Linkedin Group, which is free and open for anyone to join.
Expand your network by connecting to HIMSS on these social media sites:
|
|
Tool/Resource of the Month
Maxtrix Explores HIE Implications in Meaningful Use Stage 1 Requirements
HIMSS newly-released HIE and Meaningful Use Stage 1 Matrix provides insights on the HIE implications of Meaningful Use requirements, highlighting various perspectives including public health, PHR and providers. Developed by the HIMSS 2010- 2011 Health Information Exchange Committee, this tool begins by exploring the terms “HIE” and “HIO” and offering an overview of the relationship between HIE and Meaningful Use.
HIMSS HIE Roundtable Call
December 16, 12 - 1:30 pm Eastern
Topic: Health Information Exchange—The Colorado Way
Guest Speakers:
- Phyllis Albritton, Executive Director, Colorado State- Designated HIE & Regional Extension Center
- Russ Branzell, CIO, Poudre Valley Health Systems; CHIME Past Chair; Co-Chair C-4
Colorado has been fortunate to have one of the premier local, sustainable HIEs in the country on its Western Slope. Also, there has been a state-wide emphasis on HIE as a collaborative model to meet community needs across the state. Federal dollars for State HIE, Regional Extension Center and BEACON awards are all contributing to shared infrastructure that meet the needs of everyone from small practices and safety net providers to the largest hospital systems in the state. This collaborative process is providing value, shared decision-making and success for all payment models – anticipated and current. This session will explore the Colorado model and how it supports the game-changing effects of healthcare reform in the west.
This free webinar is open to all interested HIMSS Members and has been approved by HIMSS for up to 1.2 contact hours of continuing education credit toward renewal of the CPHIMS credential. Register here.
Calendar
Webinar: Large Physician Group Leverages HIE for True EMR Interoperability
Dec. 9
HIE Symposium
Feb. 20
Orlando, Fla.
HIMSS11
Feb. 20-24
Orlando, Fla.
|
|
