LANSING, Mich., July 1, 2019 — Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) brought together more than 350 health information and technology professionals and state and national health policymakers for the 2019 Connecting Michigan for Health conference and legal summit, which was held June 3 – 5 in Lansing.
This year’s conference focused on the boosting the power of connectivity and featured sessions on opioids in Michigan, the integration of electronic data exchange within correctional facilities and foster care system, how schools are changing the way immunizations are reported and shared, and the exchange of behavioral health information.
“MiHIN is proud to bring together national and state thoughtleaders and policymakers focused on leveraging health information to ultimately provide better care for Michiganders,” said Tim Pletcher, executive director of MiHIN. “This conference highlights not only the promise of future applications of health information technology but also the current projects that are making a difference in our state.”
Leaders from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, including Elise Sweeney Anthony, Dr. Andy Gettinger and John Rancourt provided updates on national efforts to help improve the interoperability of health information.
The conference also focused on solutions currently in the works, such as ongoing efforts to improve drug poisoning surveillance, particularly around opioids. Matthew Buck, assistant administrator with the Bureau of Epidemiology and Population Health with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, gave an overview of the department’s work with MiHIN to leverage existing capabilities to help collect better, more timely drug poisoning and opioid overdose information. This project could have more applications and improve other processes, such as stroke surveillance.
Nicholas Price, assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, presented at the legal summit and focused on how many industries, including healthcare, are experiencing the growing use and impact of predictive modeling and artificial intelligence on products and services. These technologies can be useful for detecting negative health outcomes before they occur, allowing time for healthcare practitioners to prepare, and even remedy, outbreaks.
“Data infrastructure involves a lot of complex law, and it’s gratifying to speak to a room full of people who are both informed and actually able to accomplish real-world things in that area,” said Price.
Connecting Michigan for Health major sponsors are Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Cloudticity, 4Medica, Senior Care P.A.C.E and Rhapsody.
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About Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services
The Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services (MiHIN) is Michigan’s state-designated entity to improve healthcare quality, efficiency, and patient safety by sharing electronic health information statewide, helping reduce costs for patients, providers, and payers. MiHIN is a nonprofit, public-private collaboration that includes stakeholders from the State of Michigan, Health Information Exchanges serving Michigan, health systems and providers, health plans/payers, pharmacies, and the Governor’s Health Information Technology Commission. For more information, visit https://mihin.org.
For additional information, contact:
Alyssa Jones
Public Relations Manager
Michigan Health Information Network Shared Services
269.832.8353
alyssa.jones@mihin.org