July 2016

Welcome to WISHIN Connections, the monthly e-Newsletter from the Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN).  We will keep you up to date with WISHIN activities, news on health information exchange (HIE) and new product developments.
Have an WISHIN story you'd like to share? Let us know. 
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WISHIN Welcomes New COO

Steve Rottman has joined WISHIN as its new chief operating officer (COO). As COO, Steve will be responsible for leading all business operations, developing and implementing strategic initiatives, managing customer and vendor contracts and assisting with marketing and sales initiatives.

"Steve brings many assets to WISHIN including forward-thinking leadership and strategic planning," says WISHIN CEO, Joe Kachelski, "His experience in IT, especially his most recent position in a post-acute-care setting, will be valuable as WISHIN explores new opportunities and grows our community health record."

Rottmann previously worked as the Director of Information Technology at Oakwood Village, an organization that provides long-term care, acute care, rehabilitation, memory care and independent living services to aging adults in the greater Madison area.  Prior to his position at Oakwood, he served in various IT roles at the Beaver Dam Unified School District, Badger Bank and Farmers & Merchants State Bank.

Rottmann has a Bachelor of Science degree in Strategic Management of Information Systems from Cardinal Stritch University and served in the United States Army as a telecommunications sergeant (E-5), providing leadership to soldiers in combat during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Governors Sign Compact to Fight Opioid Abuse; WISHIN on the Leading Edge of Effort to Integrate PDMP with other Clinical Data
This month 46 governors, including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, signed a compact to fight opioid addiction and abuse. Noting that drug overdose now surpasses motor-vehicle crashes as the leading cause of injury death in the country, the compact states, "Turning the tide on the epidemic requires a coordinated response across all levels of government and strong leadership from the private sector, including opioid manufacturers and prescribers."

The pact includes several steps  to curb addiction including: taking steps to reduce inappropriate opioid prescribing, leading efforts to change the nation's understanding of opioids and addiction, and taking actions to ensure a pathway to recovery for individuals with addiction.

As a part of the first step, reducing opioid prescriptions, the compact lists integrating data from state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) into electronic health records and requiring PDMP use by opioid prescribers and dispensers.

WISHIN is proud to have been on the leading edge of the effort to integrate PDMP information with other clinical data.  The WISHIN Pulse community health record has been integrated with the  PDMP database since September 2014. Care providers using WISHIN Pulse can view PDMP data at the point of care about their patients' history of prescribed controlled substance use.  They consistently report that accessing the information through WISHIN Pulse provides a more user-friendly workflow.

WISHIN Pulse can be accessed several ways including via a portal, query-and-retrieve or via single sign-on. The PDMP data is displayed in addition to the clinical data shared by other participants without separately signing into the PDMP system. Care providers can use the PDMP medication list to help inform medical decisions as they work with their patients and potentially spot at-risk users and help them with steps to recovery. 
Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network | Company | (608) 274-1820 | wishin@wishin.org | www.wishin.org | PO Box 259038 | Madison, WI 53725-9038
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