Connections Winter 2014

New Analytics Services for HIE Participants

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our new HIE analytics service. Current HIE participants with a bi-directional connection can now purchase this new service. Leveraging their investment in the HIE, participants can use our analytics tools to support ACO participation, performance improvement, risk management, and avoid CMS and other payer penalties for readmissions and repeat tests.

The service is offered in partnership with HBI Solutions and made up of four different modules described below.

Provider Performance:

Better compare actual to target performance for key performance indicators using case mix and severity adjusted targets based on state norms.

Predictive Risk Modeling:

Use real time clinical data to identify populations most at risk for 30-day readmissions, future high costs, inpatient admissions, and emergency room visits. Filter by disease, geography and patient demographics. Includes a real time patient list and clinical summary detail.

Volume and Market Share:

Use real time clinical data to track and trend volumes and market share by disease, geography, and patient demographics.

Variation Management:

Understand resource variation by disease and cost category (nursing, laboratory, radiology, etc) to reduce unnecessary practice variation.

To learn more and to request a demo, contact Dev Culver at dculver@hinfonet.org

New Tools Add Value for HIE Users

The health information exchange (HIE) has always been a valuable tool for clinicians at the time of care. But the data contained in the HIE database can also be used for care coordination, quality analysis and reporting.

New tools added to the HIE include:

ER Encounters: Generate a report of all emergency room encounters at participating hospitals for an individual patient.

30-day Hospital Readmission Report: Readmissions for any condition by individual patient or all readmissions for any procedure.

Repetitive Testing: Gather a real-time report of repeat tests and procedures. The report can be filtered by time period, patient, and individual tests and categories of tests. This can also generate a list of patients who have had repeat tests within a single facility or in the community.

Notifications: In addition to admission/discharge for emergency and inpatient settings, users can set up email notification for receipt of lab and radiology tests, and discharge from a skilled nursing facility organization.

To learn more about these tools, contact CustomerCare@hinfonet.org.

HealthInfoNet To Become eHealth Exchange

As part of HealthInfoNet's project to connect the Veterans Administration to the health information exchange, the organization needs to be validated as an eHealth Exchange (sometimes referred to as a Nationwide Health Information Network participant) participant. We began the onboarding process late last year and recently received word from the eHealth Exchange Coordinating Committee that we are eligible for participation. The eligibility determination is the first part of a two-step process. Next, our staff begins the eHealth Exchange Participant Testing and validation process. If the Committee accepts our test results, we will be considered a conditional participant and a full participant when the VA connection is up and running later this year. Not only does this participation allow us to connect with the VA, it will position HealthInfoNet to connect with other federal agencies.

The Nationwide Health Information Network (eHealth Exchange) began as a program of the Office of the National Coordinator in 2007. The program was transitioned to a public-private partnership called HealtheWay in late 2012 and re-named as the eHealth Exchange). Healtheway is a non-profit, public-private collaborative that manages the eHealth Exchange. The organization is a group of stakeholders and integrated delivery networks working to expand trusted, secure and interoperable exchange of health information. The group includes federal agencies, local, regional and state-level Health Information Exchange Organizations and private organizations.

State Innovations Model Grant Progress

We're excited to be part of the State Innovation Model (SIM) grant project. Below are the SIM projects HealthInfoNet has underway.

HealthInfoNet will provide automated secure email notifications to MaineCare and participating provider care managers when MaineCare patients are admitted to Emergency Departments and Inpatient Settings. These notifications are already in place in practices across Maine including many patient centered medical home practices. These notifications should be in place at MaineCare later this year.

20 behavioral health organizations will receive funding to support adoption of health information technology, including the HIE. Organizations will be selected through a competitive RFP process. The RFP is available now on our website as well as the State's new SIM website. Awardees will be selected and notified in April.

HealthInfoNet will pilot providing patients access to a care summary of the information contained in their HealthInfoNet record through an existing health care provider's patient portal. Because HealthInfoNet will be performing a similar activity under the Veteran's Administration project previously described, the care summary will be based on the federal continuity of care document (CCD) standard. HealthInfoNet's Consumer Advisory Committee will help make this document more patient friendly while staying within the federal CCD standard. We are currently seeking a provider partner for this project. Click here for more information.

HealthInfoNet is building a MaineCare specific clinical dashboard using tools and functionality included it our new analytics service described below. These tools will help MaineCare care managers analyze their member's health care utilization to support MaineCare population health initiatives. In addition, these tools will help MaineCare identify their most costly members allowing care managers to partner with providers to help these members better manage their health.

RFP for Behavioral Health HIT Support Just Released

As part of the State Innovations Model (SIM) Testing Grant, HealthInfoNet has just released a request for proposal (RFP) to provide 20 behavioral health organizations with financial support to adopt health information technology, including HealthInfoNet's health information exchange (HIE). This includes enhancing their system's interoperability and quality measurement. The 20 organizations chosen will receive $70K over three years to offset the cost of upgrading their systems and connecting to the HIE.

Organizations will be selected through a competitive RFP process explained in this application, due March 3rd. Awardees will be selected and notified in April.

For more information visit our website.

New Staff

HealthInfoNet is pleased to welcome the following new staff (from left) Mark Constant, Systems Administrator, Biddy Gilchrist, Business Analyst, and Sharon Bearor, Clinical Coordinator.