MedChi and CRISP Join State to Launch New Rural Health Connectivity Program | |
As part of Maryland’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), CRISP (the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients) and MedChi have collaborated with the State to launch a rural connectivity program to strengthen and modernize health care across Maryland’s rural communities.
The CRISP Rural Health Connectivity Program (RHCP) offers funding to help offset costs for connecting to CRISP and exchanging data. Funding is available to providers that implement new inbound and/or outbound data connections that can be seen on this overview flyer. These new inbound and outbound connections increase the availability of timely clinical data for care teams and the rural communities they serve. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to the availability of funds.
Eligibility Requirements:
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Eligible Entities: HIPAA-covered providers physically located in rural Maryland, operating from a distinct physical address to qualify, or serving a patient population where the majority of patients are from rural Maryland.
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Definition of Rural MD: For this program, rural Maryland includes the following counties: Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester.
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Technical Capability: The participant’s certified EHR (CEHRT) must be able to electronically submit encounter and clinical data to CRISP’s HIE infrastructure.
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Participation: Participants must provide reasonable access to relevant staff, EHR systems, and EHR vendors, as needed, for CRISP to complete onboarding and program requirements.
The Rural Health Connectivity Program is an important step toward ensuring physicians practicing in rural Maryland have the technology and connectivity needed to deliver coordinated, high-quality care. Investments like these strengthen our healthcare system, improve patient access to care, and help close longstanding gaps between rural and urban communities.
Expanding participation in Maryland's statewide health information exchange strengthens the healthcare infrastructure that supports patients and providers across the state.
To learn more about the CRISP Rural Health Connectivity Program, click here or read this overview flyer.
Gene M. Ransom III
CEO
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society
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Caring One's recent deployment of agentic AI voice technology coupled with human-in-the-loop capability, demonstrated how healthcare organizations can reduce this burden while improving the caller experience. Unlike traditional phone trees that frustrate callers and tie up staff time, the AI solution conducts natural conversations, verifies information in real time, and provides accurate answers in seconds. The result is faster service, reduced wait times, and the ability for staff to focus on higher-value patient interactions rather than repetitive administrative tasks.
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Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Receives Transformational Gift for Surgical Center
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center (LHAAMC) received a $10 million transformational gift that will establish the Earl Family Surgical Center at LHAAMC and serve as the lead gift for LHAAMC’s $20 million Advanced Surgical Suite project, a major investment in the future of surgical care. MedChi member, Mitch Cahan, MD, Chair of Surgery at LuminisHealth, said, “This investment will strengthen our ability to recruit and retain top surgical talent, enhance training and development for our physicians, nurses, and staff, and support our continued commitment to delivering the highest level of care.” Read more here.
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Former MedChi President Padmini Ranasinghe Wins 2026 Small Grant
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Dr. Ranasinghe is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she serves as a clinician, researcher, and educator of medical students, residents, and public health trainees. Focusing on early detection of hospital-acquired pressure injuries using thermal imaging, Dr. Ranasinghe’s research serves to identify tissue damage before it becomes visible. This project brings together an interdisciplinary team spanning the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, and The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School. To learn more about Dr. Ranasinghe's work and PI grant, click here.
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MedChi Member Marisa Mizus, M.D. opened Innovative Care, a new medical clinic specializing in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine, on July 7. Located in Hunt Valley, the practice is now accepting new patients and is dedicated to providing high-quality, comprehensive Rheumatology and Adult Medical Care to the Hunt Valley community and surrounding areas.
Innovative Care offers expert diagnosis and management for complex autoimmune diseases—such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, and gout—alongside comprehensive primary care internal medicine services. The clinic is equipped with modern diagnostic tools to ensure patients receive timely, evidence-based care tailored to their unique needs. For more information, read the full press release.
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please contact Olivia Ballmann. All submissions are subject to review and approval.
Submission does not guarantee inclusion, publication, or use.
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Baysox Member Social Hits It Out of the Park
On June 16, members of the Anne Arundel & Howard County Medical Society and the Prince George's County Medical Society gathered at Prince George's Stadium for the annual Baysox Member Social.
The evening brought together physicians from the three counties, and their families, for a fun night at the ballpark. It was especially exciting to welcome members attending their first Society event, both new and longstanding, all enjoying the chance to connect with colleagues in a relaxed setting.
Several medical students attended as guests of the component societies and were an especially welcome addition, bringing great energy to the event. Physicians enjoyed getting to know them, sharing advice, and hearing about their experiences as they begin their careers in medicine.
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MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society
800.492.1056 • www.medchi.org
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