Connecting Healthcare - Connie's Quarterly Newsletter
|
|
CONNIE IN THE NEWS!
State Representative Kerry Wood and Senator Tony Hwang, a Co-Chair and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, hosted a press conference on Wednesday, January 25th, at 10 AM at the State Legislative Office Building to talk about Connie, Connecticut's Health Information Exchange (HIE). The conference aimed to highlight the benefits of Connie and the importance of connecting to Connie to promote patient-centered care and improve the quality, safety, and value of healthcare. Jenn Searls, Executive Director of Connie, along with Sumit Sajnani, HITO, Office of Health Strategy and Dr. Albert Villarin, Chief Medical Information Officer for Nuvance Health were just a few speakers among several healthcare providers and state officials in attendance.
With Jenn Searls sharing her extensive knowledge about Connie and the practical application perspectives of physicians who regularly use Connie speaking at this press conference, the audience had a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Connie and its impact on healthcare services in Connecticut. Our hope is that this collective effort and multifaceted message broadcast from the main stage will help to promote patient-centered care by creating awareness and encouraging all healthcare providers to connect with Connie by May 3, 2023, as mandated by the Connecticut State Statute.
|
|
A WORD FROM JENN SEARLS:
2023: Mission Critical
As I reflect on 2022 and look forward to 2023, I am so encouraged by the milestone progress we’ve made toward advancing our mission to enhance the health and well-being of Connecticut residents through the provision of health information technology services. Since achieving major milestones in terms of stakeholder value, connectivity, and operational excellence, Connie has continued to demonstrate its relevance and impact. As we move into 2023, we are eager to build on this momentum and bring even more innovative solutions to support our healthcare community.
We know that to meet our state-mandated goals of complete medical records across all health care providers, supporting care coordination through real time alerts and timely access to clinical information, reducing costs associated with preventable readmissions, duplicative testing, and medical errors we must get to critical mass. What is critical mass? It means connecting more than 95% of hospitals, 70% of skilled nursing facilities, 75% of pharmacies, and 75% of ambulatory providers.
2022 saw us reach connectivity with 3/4 of our state’s hospitals and almost 40% of ambulatory providers – we are well on our way of reaching our overall goal! By the end of 2023, we aim to reach 60% of our critical mass goal. This will allow us to provide a seamless experience for healthcare providers and ensure that they have access to the information they need to provide the best possible care to their patients.
In addition to reaching critical mass, we intend to have at least one state connectivity project in progress. Many state agencies are connected to our healthcare partners for critical public health purposes. Connie can and should provide efficiencies both to state agencies and to our health care providers that will enable each stakeholder to focus on the work they do best.
Finally, we are excited to announce that we have plans to roll out patient access to Connie data. By the end of 2023, we will have a plan in place for patients to access their own health information through Connie. This is a major step forward for patient empowerment and will help to improve the quality of care for everyone.
I am confident that with your continued support, we can achieve these goals and make a real difference in the lives of millions of people. I am truly grateful for the dedication of our Connie team, our partners, participants, and the entire Connie community as we work towards advancing connectivity and improving healthcare for all of Connecticut.
|
|
NEW PARTICIPANTS ARE JOINING CONNIE EVERY DAY
We are excited to announce that as of Jan 2023, we are connected with hundreds of participating organizations who are securely exchange data on 4+ million patients. Of those participating organizations (POs), we would like to highlight some of our newly connected partners that are sharing data through Connie. Be sure to check out our Connected Participating Organizations Dashboard to see our growing list of connected organizations and discover what they're sharing!
|
|
OUTREACH EFFORT UPDATE!
Connie's outreach efforts in Q1 have been highly successful, with a strong focus on getting primary care and specialty physician practices, pharmacies, labs, and skilled nursing facilities connected with Connie. Our team has been working tirelessly to spread awareness about the benefits of Connie and how it can help improve healthcare in Connecticut. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are proud to report that we have received over 300 Commitment to Connect forms in just three months. This is a clear indication that there is a demand for our services, a need for greater connectivity in the healthcare industry and a shared desire to meet the state mandate to connect. With this momentum, we are confident that we will be able to achieve our critical mass goals for 2023!
|
|
EXCITING PROGRESS! IMAGE SHARE COMING SOON FOR UCONN HEALTH & YALE NEW HAVEN HOSPITALS
|
|
We are delighted to announce that UConn Health and Yale New Haven Hospitals will soon be joining Bristol Health and Nuvance Health as they go live with Image Share! For those of you who are unfamiliar with this service, Image Share allows authorized users to access patient images in full diagnostic quality, providing real-time access to patient images and reports. This innovative technology will significantly improve the speed and quality of care for all connected organizations, from private providers to large hospitals.
We are proud to be a part of this transformative initiative and look forward to the positive impact it will have on the healthcare industry in Connecticut. By bringing together leading healthcare organizations like UConn Health, Yale New Haven Hospitals, Nuvance Health, and Bristol Health, we are building a more connected, efficient, and effective healthcare system.
|
|
CONNIE WEBSITE 2.0
New Look, More Info, Better Functionality
We are currently hard at work creating a new and improved Connie website and need your help! This is an opportunity for exclusive first looks and to test drive the new website, as well as provide valuable feedback on the end user experience.
The website won’t just have a new look – we’re creating special features for organizations and providers, patient specific resources, an interactive Connie University section, and more!
If you are interested in this opportunity, contact Communications Manager Tiffany Magennis at [email protected] and we will reach out to you as soon as possible!
|
|
Have you checked out our RESOURCE LIBRARY yet? The Resource Library is a one-stop-shop where you can find all our educational and informational resources to help your organization better understand and use Connie. Be sure to bookmark this page, as we are always adding more valuable content!
Check out our NEW additions:
Connie’s Operating Policies & Procedures and the Portal User Guide!
A successful HIE depends on trust between the patient, the healthcare provider, and the HIE. In order to build trust, HIEs must develop and implement policies and procedures guiding their operations, including how they will maintain and secure protected health information (PHI).
Connie has identified the policies, and procedures that are essential for successful HIE management and operations. Our Operating Policies & Procedures will serve as a resource and reference guide for our participating organizations.
We have an exciting new addition to the Resource Library for Connie Portal users! The Portal User Guide provides comprehensive step-by-step information on how to access the basic functions of the Connie Portal. As Connie’s services and features evolve, so will the Portal User Guide, so be sure to come back for more updates and tips on how to use our services and maximize the benefits!
|
|
CHECK OUT OUR LATEST PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS |
|
"Connie can be leveraged during major disasters to minimize delays in access to critical clinical information and to expedite the coordination of patient transfers should evacuations become necessary. Reducing the time it takes to access patient records during critical or emergent events of any scale helps to ensure safe continuity of care."
Kurt A. Barwis, FACHE
President & Chief Executive Officer | Bristol Health
|
|
"Connect with Connie if you are considering it! It’s wonderful to be able to have a central place to get records from, and to have your patient’s information available to other providers. For example, if your patient is seen by a specialist or has been in the ER, it’s so much easier for us to say, “I see that you did cut your leg, but your tetanus shot is up to date”. We signed up so we could provide that level of care for our patients."
Holly Pyne, Office Manager
Child and Adolescent Health Care, LLC
|
|
OUTREACH EFFORTS CONTINUE...
Connie goes onsite to meet, greet and educate!
The Connie team has been actively engaging in outreach efforts, attending conferences across Connecticut to educate the healthcare community about Connie and its services. Recently, the team attended the LeadingAge Conference for Skilled Nursing Facilities and the CMGMA Conference for healthcare management professionals.
At the LeadingAge conference, the Connie team provided an update on how to connect with Connie and offered a live demo of the Portal. They also had a table where attendees could meet with Account Managers and learn about the state mandate to connect, as well as the connection process and timeline.
At the CMGMA conference, Executive Director Jenn Searls gave a presentation showcasing Connie's progress over the last year, emphasized the state mandate to connect with Connie by May 3rd, 2023, and provided insights into what's coming for Connie in 2023. The presentation aimed to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of Connie and its services.
|
|
NEW EMPLOYEES & BIG PROMOTIONS!
As Connie continues to grow, so does our talented and dedicated team. We are thrilled to welcome Kelsey Parrish and Kary Nulisch to the team as Project Manager and Interim Senior Account Manager, respectively. Kelsey will be working closely with Heidi Wilson and Kary will be leading the Ambulatory Outreach Project. They are already making valuable contributions to Connie! Help us welcome Kelsey and Kary!
We also want to acknowledge and celebrate the growth and development of our existing team members. This quarter, we are proud to announce that Gwen Reyes has been appointed by the Connie Board of Directors as Board Secretary, where she will be responsible for overseeing and coordinating meetings with the Board. Gwen is exceptional at organizing and keeping everyone on track, so we are confident that she is a perfect fit to support our Board!
Finally, we are thrilled to announce that Amanda Stevens has been promoted from Program Assistant to Account Manager. Amanda has been with Connie for over a year and has made significant contributions in her role as Program Assistant, particularly in supporting the onboarding process and managing data. We are proud of Amanda's achievements and know that she will continue to impress as an Account Manager. Congratulations, Amanda!
|
|
|
|
“I am looking forward to advancing my knowledge in use case development and providing better access to healthcare record sharing in Connecticut. I’ve had a great start and warm welcome to the Connie team. Meeting the Connie team at the 2023 CSS Conference was a great opportunity to get to know everyone; I am excited to work with such a friendly and helpful team!”
- Kelsey Parrish
|
|
“Working with the Connie team is humbling and very rewarding.
I am lucky to be able to leverage my experience delivering complicated, statewide initiatives with a team that is so passionate about improving healthcare in Connecticut."
- Kary Nulisch
|
|
CELEBRATING CONNIE ANNIVERSARIES
To celebrate their workaversaries, we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jenn Searls, our fearless leader; Heidi Wilson, our HIE Services Director; Tiffany York, our Communications Director; and Amanda Stevens, our newest Account Manager. These talented team members have made invaluable contributions to Connie and are instrumental in ensuring that Connecticut gets connected! Their dedication, hard work, and expertise have played a crucial role in Connie’s success! Cheers to many more years of great achievements and outstanding performance. We are so grateful for all you do!
|
|
"Undoubtedly what I love about working at Connie is our team of dedicated and energetic coworkers. I know that we all have the same fire and passion for improving the health and wellbeing of Connecticut’s citizens through secure clinical data exchange. I feel so fortunate to have been able to pull together the team that we have."
|
|
"What I enjoy most about working for Connie is the people I work with, both within our organization, as well as our technical infrastructure partner, CRISP Shared Services, and their Affiliate HIEs. All around a positive, helpful, and incredibly talented group of people who have shepherded my growth and knowledge over the past two years. I couldn’t have wished for a better working environment and team." |
|
"Working for Connie has been such a blessing. I get to work alongside incredibly talented individuals and gain valuable experience in the process. I have enjoyed taking on a leadership role in the Marketing and Communications department to create a more organized and intentional approach. My favorite part is supporting the AM team in their outreach and education efforts, as their success is our success." |
|
"When my grandmother had her stroke, I knew I needed to get back into healthcare. When I heard about Connie, and how the HIE would have benefited her directly, I was so excited about the possibility of working here. Now, I look forward to growing my relationships with co-workers and moving into my new role as an Account Manager."
|
|
FREE UPCOMING WEBINAR ON 3/8/2023 @ 12PM EST
|
|
Join Connie's Leadership Team for a comprehensive review of updates and available services, including updates on connectivity progress with other organizations, demonstrations of the Connie portal, end-user resources, and an in-depth Q&A session.
This webinar is designed to provide onboarded participants with a better understanding of Connie, including how to leverage it effectively and how to incorporate it into existing workflows. The webinar will also provide opportunities for attendees to ask questions and gain further insights into the services offered by Connie.
|
|
YOUR OPINION MATTERS!
If you're a regular Connie user and would like to provide us with some feedback on our current services, we would love to hear from you! Please take 2 minutes to complete our survey below. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!
|
|
|
|
Address: 400 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06032
Phone: (888) 783-4410
|
|
NOTE: You are receiving this newsletter because you either subscribed to our email list and/or are an active or prospective participant with Connie, Connecticut’s state-designated Health Information Exchange. While you are welcome to unsubscribe at any time, we hope you will remain on our mailing list, where you will receive Connie's latest updates, featured benefits, industry news, policy changes, health IT trends, service rollouts, and so much more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
