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Quarterly Newsletter
September 2024
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Update from the Executive Director |
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Over the past year, we've seen remarkable work by West Virginia's healthcare professionals. Along with that success, I'm proud to report that the WVHIN is stronger than ever.
We've seen significant milestones that speak to provider and administrator's growing reliance and confidence in our network.
In fiscal year 2024, we experienced a 122% increase in engagement with the WVHIN from our users, a milestone that highlights the growing reliance on our network.
Additionally, we are now proud to support over 4,000 users in the network. User inquiries are at an all-time as well. In August alone, we achieved a new record with 16,000 weekly queries - the highest in our history.
This significant growth includes a diverse group of healthcare providers, from physicians and nurses to administrative staff, all utilizing the WVHIN for access to critical patient information.
Looking ahead, we're excited to continue innovating and integrating new tools into the WVHIN to create more solutions that provide better data quality and help you improve patient outcomes.
As always, we value the impact of our users. Your feedback has a direct impact on our focus as we continue to enhance our network. Please email us anytime at: info@WVHIN.org.
Sonia Chambers, Executive Director of WVHIN
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The Powerful New Tool Set to Transform the Way West Virginians Receive Care
and Manage Chronic Disease
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For healthcare providers in West Virginia, managing complex patient populations can be challenging, especially given the state’s high rate of chronic conditions. Approximately 260,000 people in West Virginia are diabetic with an estimated 48,000 unaware of their condition. An additional 518,000 individuals are prediabetic, highlighting a critical need for early intervention and monitoring.
Having an easy way to view and track population health data at the point of care can make a world of difference to the providers addressing these chronic conditions. To meet this need, West Virginia Health Information Network has integrated a new software application called Population Explorer. Population Explorer allows connected providers to track patient data, view encounters and receive real-time alerts for events such as hospital visits through our network.
Effective management and monitoring are crucial to providing whole-person care. With Population Explorer, care teams can incorporate advanced population data derived from electronic health records, granting them a powerful new tool in the decision-making process.
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Internet Explorer is History! | | |
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Microsoft and Industry Vendors No Longer Support Internet Explorer
When launching InContext from the EHR or within the HIE Portal, please make sure you're using a supported browser. If you're still using Internet Explorer, please contact your hospital-based EHR support team for assistance in migrating to a supported browser.
Without the support of Microsoft and industry vendors, the Internet Explorer browser poses security risks. Ensure your site's EHR system is configured correctly, and you'll continue to receive full-featured InContext functionality and support.
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West Virginia Primary Care Leadership Forum | | |
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In September, Sonia Chambers, Holly Mount and Lindsay McKelvey from WVHIN attended the West Virginia Primary Care Leadership Forum in Glade Springs.
There, representatives from WVHIN met state leaders, including Governor Jim Justice and his dog, Babydog (look at that smile!). WVHIN was honored to be a sponsor of this event, and excited to engage in meaningful discussions about WVHIN's work.
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WV Health Care Association
Annual Convention
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Cathy Glenz represented the WVHIN at the WV Health Care Association Annual Convention in Morgantown.
Inspired by the 2024 Summer Olympics, the theme this year was "Going for Gold!" to emphasize unity in the WV healthcare mission.
WVHIN is proud to be a partner with the WV Health Care Association, the state's largest long-term care trade association with over 120 member nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and retirement centers.
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Reminder:
90-Day Audits!
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A quick reminder – WVHIN users must be verified every 90 days to maintain their access.
HIE Admins should be sure to audit themselves to avoid account suspension. Should your HIE Admin account(s) become suspended, please contact WVHIN Support at 1-844-468-5755 to be reactivated.
Use the HIE Admin Tool – 90-Day User Audit Tip Sheet for a step-by-step process to ensure appropriate users remain active in the system.
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Updates to Learning Library | |
We’re excited to announce new updates to the WVHIN Learning Library, including Quick Guides for our Portal Overview, InContext, Snapshot, and Consent Tool.
Additionally, we’ve added a 90-day Audit Tip Sheet for the HIE Admin Tool and a video overview of Population Explorer.
These resources are designed to help you navigate our tools more effectively. Visit the Learning Library on our website to explore these new materials.
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WVHIN team members volunteer at Christian Community Cupboard in Hurricane, West Virginia. Efforts benefit families affected by food insecurity and can also provide folks with essential household items. | |
Our amazing team put together helpful bags for the unhoused population in West Virginia. These bags contained essential items such as sunscreen, ponchos, reusable water bottles and non-perishable snacks. | |
Employees from WVHIN and CRISP Shared Services visited Project Hope, one of the many partners in West Virginia dedicated to substance use disorder recovery. Their role is vital to the recovery process in our community. | |
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CCHS staff use the WVHIN portal directly from the patient record in our EHR to locate CCDs and other relevant information in order to provide uninterrupted care to the patient. By having the ability to go directly into the patient’s WVHIN record without leaving the EHR and logging into another system has been very beneficial to the workflow and efficiency of documentation at CCHS.
Emma White BSN, RN, PCMH-CCE (she/her/hers)
Director of Quality and Risk Management
Cabin Creek Health Systems
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Share Your Story With Us! | |
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What's Your WVHIN Win?
Please share your story of how WVHIN has helped you!
Email us at info@WVHIN.org with the subject line "WVHIN Win!" If your testimony is featured in our upcoming newsletter, we’ll send you a WVHIN branded blanket as a thank you.
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Have an upcoming conference or event?
WVHIN values connecting with other healthcare stakeholders and organizations working to improve the well-being of people across West Virginia. We welcome any opportunities to attend, speak, or showcase our services and tools at community events or conferences across the state.
Please reach out to us if you have an upcoming opportunity to discuss how we may support or collaborate with you. Email us anytime at: info@WVHIN.org.
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We Want to Hear From You! | | |
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Our solutions are best built in collaboration with those who use them most.
We'd love to hear your feedback, suggestions and ideas for more impactful programs and features.
Your insight is valuable. Share your questions and suggestions with us, so we can ensure we are delivering what you need most.
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About WVHIN
For more than 10 years, WVHIN has connected healthcare providers with data from most of the state’s providers, hospitals, laboratories, agencies, and more.
WVHIN’s mission is to provide the healthcare community with a trusted, integrated, and seamless electronic infrastructure that enables health data exchange for high-quality, patient-centered care.
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