HealthInfoNet recently received one of three 2011 Innovator Awards from Healthcare Informatics, a national executive-level publication specializing in health information technology. While the awards have traditionally recognized hospitals, physician practices and health systems, this was the first time an award was given to a health information exchange organization. The award recognized HealthInfoNet for both leadership and innovation in building one of the first and most comprehensive statewide health information exchange organizations in the country. As part of this award, HealthInfoNet was also featured in the February edition of Healthcare Informatics in an article titled 'Shaping a Trailblazing Data Exchange'.

The MEREC will be hosting the second in a series of free regional forums about electronic health records, meaningful use, and related federal and state incentive programs. The events are held in partnership with Quality Counts and funded in part by the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Grant Program through the Maine CDC Office of Rural Health and Primary Care. The forums are specifically targeted for primary care providers and staff of small independent practices as well as clinical and administrative staff in Maine's rural and critical access hospitals.The events will include a panel of health information technology experts, both local and national, a specific discussion on the integration of HIT in the patient centered medical home, and group breakout sessions focused on using EHRs (inpatient and outpatient) to improve health care quality and outcomes, reduce costs and ultimately achieve federal meaningful use requirements.

Hope to see you at one of the following events.

·         Franklin Memorial Hospital:  Tues, May 10, 1:30-5:30pm

·         Mt. Desert Island Hospital:  Wed, May 11, 2-6pm

·         Mayo Regional Hospital: Wed, May 25, 2-6pm

·         Goodall Hospital:  Wed, June 1, 2-6pm

Register here or by calling Maria Stevenson at 207-541-9250, ext 201. 

HealthInfoNet recently signed a contract with General Electric (GE) to be a reseller of the GE Centricity Secure Messaging product to Centricity EHR users throughout the State of Maine. This arrangement will offer health care providers significantly discounted pricing over what is generally available today. In addition, this effort represents HealthInfoNet's first step in participation in the Nationwide Health Information Network Direct Project.  Commonly referred to as simply "Direct", this project aims to help providers to communicate within a trusted network using common secure messaging protocols that require certificates provided by a Health Information Service Provider (HISPs). HealthInfoNet is currently in discussions with additional providers of this service and will have these tools available to all providers in the State of Maine later this year. We are also working with Orion Health, HealthInfoNet's HIE vendor, to assure that providers have messaging capabilities inside the HealthInfoNet portal. By doing so, users of the portal will be able to quickly contact their peers without leaving their workspace. Look for details about this service in our next newsletter.

As the health information exchange moves into statewide implementation, with a number of new provider organizations connecting this year, HealthInfoNet staff have been stepping up community awareness. HealthInfoNet employees have recently presented to groups including the Patient Centered Medical Home Learning Forum, the Hanley Behavioral Health IT Forum, the Long Term Care IT Planning Meeting, and the Quality Counts Annual Meeting on topics ranging from the health information exchange state expansion efforts to support of long-term care and acute care transitions. If you are interested in having HealthInfoNet present to your group, please contact Maria Stevenson at mstevenson@hinfonet.org,

207-541-9250 ext 201.