HIT LEADERS TO DISCUSS STATEWIDE HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE (HIE)

An update on state Health Information Technology (HIT) initiatives
that will improve the quality and safety of patient care

WHERE: Massachusetts Medical Society, 860 Winter Street, Waltham
WHEN: Friday, July 30, 2010; Registration: 7 A.M. Event: 7:45 to 9:30 A.M.
WHY: To raise awareness about state HIT activity and plan for a statewide HIE
DIRECTIONS TO: Conference Center at Waltham Woods (click here)

No pre-registration required

Attend the meeting by conference call and webinar.

Conference call: 866-939-3921 or 678-302-3550

Webinar: To register go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/265523283
All questions will be facilitated through the Webinar.

Dr. Rick Shoup, State HIT Coordinator, Dr. John Halamka, CIO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical Center, and Phil Poley, COO of MassHealth will present an update on the statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) on Friday, July 30, 2010 at the Massachusetts Medical Society in Waltham. There will also be an opportunity for questions and answers.

Dr. Halamka and Mr. Poley co-chair the HIE ad hoc workgroup, which is providing recommendations to the Massachusetts eHealth Institute on a statewide HIE capability. A statewide HIE will allow for the transmission of clinical, prescription, lab and other data between health care providers and medical institutions across the Commonwealth. This will enable patients and health care providers to receive more timely and accurate information when making critical health care decisions. A statewide HIE will utilize Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems throughout the state to share data and establish a private and secure network. By providing timely and more accurate data, the HIE will increase patient safety, enhance the quality of care delivered and work to reduce the overall cost of health care in the Commonwealth.

The HIE ad hoc workgroup is one of six ad hoc workgroups that are developing a statewide vision for improving healthcare by increasing the effective use of health IT. The additional five ad hoc workgroups focus on Consumer Education; Privacy and Security; Workforce Development; Clinical Quality and Public Health; Electronic Health Record (EHR) and the Regional Extension Center (REC). MeHI is utilizing the input from a broad set of stakeholders from both the private and public sectors to leverage the vast health IT expertise in the Commonwealth.

In February 2010, the Massachusetts e-Health Institute (MeHI) was awarded $10.6 million in federal funding to support the development of a secure network to support a statewide HIE. MeHI is also the designated Regional Extension Center for the Commonwealth, and received an additional $13.4 million in federal funds to provide direct support to priority primary care physicians. The REC is responsible for offering technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to speed the deployment of health information technology.

For more information please visit http://www.maehi.org